A mum whose six-year-old son was given back the gift of hearing by doctors in Bradford is raising money to help build the team a bigger and better home.

Ruth Perrelli is to complete the equivalent of a marathon by a combination of running, rowing, cycling and cross training in her local gym on Saturday, November 24, to raise money for the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

All money raised will go to support the Listening for Life Appeal, which is aiming to raise £1.5million to build a cochlear implant centre in the grounds of BRI.

The centre will have state-of-the-art audiological facilities, more space and rooms which will shorten assessment times and improve the rehabilitation of those who have had a cochlear implant to restore their hearing.

The Telegraph & Argus is backing the appeal by highlighting the amazing stories of those who have already benefited from the service since it came to Bradford in 1990, such as Ruth's son Luca.

"Luca was born with a mild hearing loss which was diagnosed in 2003 when he was two," said Ruth, 35, who lives with her husband Roberto, 43, and family in Sheffield.

"His hearing then started to fluctuate over the next few years until in August 2006 Luca suddenly lost all of his hearing.

"This was a devastating time for him. He become withdrawn and lost in his own little world which had suddenly gone very quiet. His behaviour and speech deteriorated and his previous love of listening to stories, singing and SpongeBob Squarepants cartoons disappeared along with his hearing. At this point only a cochlear implant could help him."

Luca was referred to the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service at BRI as it is the only centre in Yorkshire which performs the procedure.

The implant is an artificial hearing device, designed to produce hearing sensations by electronically stimulating nerves in the inner ear.

Luca underwent an operation in February this year to implant the internal part of the device and in March he returned to have it activated.

"He could hear - it was a big day," said Ruth. "The transformation was immediate, not only could Luca hear things again but also things he had never been able to hear, such as the birds singing, the rain and the wind.

"He turned back into his old self again, wanting to listen to stories, to have SpongeBob back on TV and best of all he started speaking clearly again.

"After just seven months of being able to hear again, his speech has rapidly improved and he amazes me with the things he can say and hear.

"I cannot stress how grateful I am for his implant, it has given Luca his life back again and a more positive future."