THE wife of a man who suffered a near-fatal brain haemorrhage while working abroad is preparing to tackle the London Marathon for the charity that helped rebuild their lives.

Denise Johnson, of Baildon, is aiming to raise £500 for Headway Bradford by taking part in tomorrow's run. Her husband Don suffered a brain haemorrhage in July 2013 while working in Saudi Arabia as vice-president of an insurance company.

Running is a passion Denise and Don have always shared, but the hobby gained new significance when it became a key part of his rehabilitation after regaining consciousness from a coma.

"My high-flying husband went from being an organised, driven person to struggling with basic instructions," said Denise.

"He was forced to accept early retirement and stop driving, while I had to put my life on hold as we waded through the worst year of our lives.

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"We started running together as part of Don's rehabilitation, which thankfully gave us both something real to focus on."

She added: "It has been a very emotional journey, but I want to be Don's reason to keep getting better.

"I am so proud of Don for having the courage to fight back and not only re-learn how to run again after brain injury, but to find the confidence to drive again too.

"The continued support provided by Headway Bradford means so much to me and I can never do enough to celebrate the fabulous recovery Don has made."

Also running the marathon will be Ilkley businessman Richard Bye, who has overcome mental health problems to get his life and career back on track.

Five years ago the then 38-year-old father-of-two was struggling with a 24-hour workload and was left exhausted, fighting severe anxiety and panic attacks and fearful of losing his career.

With the help of mental health counsellors he managed to overcome his illness and get his life back on track but resigned from his high-powered job.

Three and a half years on, Richard has rebuilt his career, now running three businesses, including popular cycling brand Fat Lad At The Back, which he founded with wife Lynn in 2013.

Now he wants to help beat the misconceptions surrounding mental health illness and is running the marathon for MIND, the charity he says he wishes he had known about in his darkest days and whose work he greatly admires.

Richard said: "I worked 20 hours a day, travelling internationally – often up to seven countries in five days and I never said ‘no’.

“I lost sight of my fitness, health, time, gained weight and was travelling more and more. It all hit me during a business trip in Denmark.

"I was giving a presentation I had given a 1,000 times when I was suddenly, totally overcome with a feeling of complete exhaustion from somewhere inside me - like an exhaustion from the soul.

"I now know why it’s referred to as 'Hitting the Wall' – it truly feels like you've hit something so hard, you're stopped dead in your tracks. It was absolutely the most terrifying experience I have ever had."

He added: “My motivation for running with MIND is the fact that so many people are suffering from the same mental illness yet are too scared to say anything, It’s incredible how many times I have mentioned my own experiences, to friends and work colleagues only to see them suddenly connect with what I am saying."

To sponsor Denise or Richard, visit justgiving.com/Denise-Johnson2 or uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for Richard Bye.