It was the moment that changed Tim Daniels’ life forever – and led to a staggering amount of charity fundraising.

The keen cyclist was out riding with friends in Owslebury, near Winchester in August 2013, when a collision with a telegraph pole left him unconscious and fighting for his life. Tim was treated and picked up by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) – a charity that has remained close to his heart.

Since then, Tim, 63, and his close friend Rob Sanderson have raised more than £240,000 for a number of charities, principally Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and Motor Neurone Disease Association, with their most recent donation of £8,838 to the air ambulance charity raised through Tim’s skydiving efforts and a charity raffle and auction supplemented by the President of Winchester Rugby Football Club’ s charity lunch on 21 October.

Tim’s high-speed accident left him with a broken neck, back, left shoulder bone and nearly all of his ribs. He also had a life-threatening bleed on the brain and had lost his short-term memory.

Emergency doctors and paramedics from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Their expertise, coupled with advanced life-saving kit and equipment on board, meant Tim received hospital-level care on the roadside.

He spent the next three months recovering and getting back up on his feet – and bike.

Tim said:

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. What they did on the roadside saved my life. Looking back, you realise how fragile life is and the impact this might have had on my wife and family. I have five wonderful children and today am blessed with seven grandchildren. Things could have been so different.

“As a charitable organisation it is important for me to get back on my bike and raise money for them. Each mission costs on average £3,320, and with the rising cost of living this is only going to increase in the future. It is therefore imperative we do all we can to support this incredible charity.”

Keen cyclists, friends and fundraisers Tim and Rob have cycled from London to Paris, Caen to Cannes (via Mont Ventoux) across Canada from Calgary to Vancouver and held numerous charity dinners and events to help other people in need.

Keith Wilson, Director of Income and Engagement at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, said:

“Tim and his close friends and family have had a remarkable impact on this charity over the years. They have undoubtedly saved numerous lives – lives of people they will likely never meet. We are incredibly grateful that they continue to support us and our patients.”

For more information, please visit www.hiowaa.org