A COMMUNITY'S annual Santa dash is being held in aid of a campaign to bring a man home after he suffered life-changing injuries in a crash.

On January 10, 2022, Ian Tilston, from Hawarden, had been travelling to work when he took junction 10 of the M56, where two horses had managed to escape from a nearby site.

One collided with his vehicle which left Ian 'crushed inside his car'.

Ian suffered two cardiac arrests at the scene, brain damage and a punctured lung, leaving his family to only recognise him by his nose.

The now 35-year-old was transferred to Salford Royal Hospital, and then the Walton Centre where he had numerous brain surgeries, was on life support for months, and was also in a coma for a couple of months. 

Ian has been left blind and confined to a wheelchair. He spent 16 months in hospital and is now being cared for at Pendine Park Home in Wrexham.

His family has been fundraising to make his mother's home in Hawarden suitable for Ian to return home.

And this year's Hawarden Santa Dash will be in aid of Ian.

The event will take place on Sunday, December 17. Registration will be at the Crown & Liver pub, and will be open from 11am - with the Santa dash itself taking place at 11.30am. 

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It is £10 for adults to enter - which includes a Santa suit. People can sign up for the event at https://bit.ly/3uUnf6C.

Ian's brother, Adam, said: "It's approaching nearly two years since my brother's life changing crash on the M56. In that time, Ian has fought and proved all the experts wrong. He has overcome a life support machine, came out of a coma, and learned how to breathe, eat, and drink again.

"He has also had to adapt to being blind and being in a wheelchair. Ian is currently smashing physio to improve his mobility.

"The family were overwhelmed by the success from the Go Fund Me page after Ian's story made national and international news. The money raised so far has gone towards private physio sessions. Which have improved Ian's mobility."

He added: "We are really close to getting Ian home to us. Our parents have sold their house in Ewloe to buy a bungalow in Hawarden - to allow Ian to come home to us. So work will begin soon to adapt the bungalow and any further money raised will go towards further support in his recovery."