THE family of a man who suffered a brain aneurysm have raised £1,300 for the rehabilitation unit which has proved vital to his recovery.

As previously reported in the Worcester News, John Marshman of Upton suffered the aneurysm in June which left him unable to walk.

The total raised by his family so far is nearly three times their original fundraising target of £500 with more cash set to come in.

His family, including daughter Laura Jones who is a hairdresser in St John's, rallied behind him and the rehab unit.

A raffle took place at Tres Chic Hair Salon in Malvern Road, St John's, Worcester, earlier this month to raise funds for the Leamington Rehabilitation Unit where he is now getting support.

Mrs Jones said: "We have been amazed by people's generosity. We're really happy that we raised so much for the unit. We were hoping to raise £500 originally."

The family are now exploring the possibility of securing match funding to potentially double their funds but this has yet to be confirmed.

Mrs Jones previously described her 58-year-old dad as a positive man and the staff at the unit as 'brilliant'.

The grandfather-of-four, an agricultural worker, returned to his home in Upton where he complained of feeling unwell shortly before he suffered the aneurysm.

Since it happened he has been working with staff at the unit to develop his cognitive and thinking skills and undergoing intensive physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and is improving his practical skills to restore his independence.

The pamper evening which raised the money was organised by Mrs Jones and sister Sarah Marshman who works at Clarins.

The bulk of the money was raised by selling more than 1,000 raffle tickets at £1 each.

The funds will be used to enhance the facility, supporting its future as a national centre of excellence.

The appeal needs to raise £235,000 to support people at the unit who have suffered an acquired brain injury, stroke or tumour.

Raffle prizes included a Worcester Warriors signed shirt, Morgan Motors factory tour tickets, a meal for two at the Farriers Arms, chocolate and wine hampers and beauty gifts supplied by No7, Clarins, Adore, Beauty and Joico.