After hearing the words “you will never walk again” a Richmond resident was forced to question whether his childhood passion for skiing had been taken from him.

But for 26-year-old Tim Farr the bombshell, which came following a freak skiing accident, was the beginning of a journey that has seen him rise the ranks of the British disabled ski team.

In order to thank the Backup Trust, which helps people with spinal cord injury by actively encouraging personal challenge, for supporting him, Mr Farr and his pals are putting on a fundraising charity rugby match at Richmond Rugby Club on May 3.

The Cambridge Road resident was a 21-year-old university student at Exeter when he landed a ski jump awkwardly and broke his back in 2004.

“That’s quite a tough thing to deal with when you are told you will never walk again,” Mr Farr said.

“A lot of people get down and depressed – you think of disabled life as involving nothing you did before, especially with young active people.

“You don’t know what life is going to be like, you almost get cocooned in the hospital.

“It’s a lot to take in, you basically have to learn to relive your life again.”

He returned to university life soon after with help from the charity and friends – who would carry him into pubs, clubs and anywhere lacking in disabled access.

Mr Farr said: “They helped me realise I was the same person.

“I do the same things and now I ski better than any of them.”

Determined to stay active, Mr Farr, who has been a keen skier since the age of seven, swiftly returned to the slopes on a trip with the Backup Trust and ended up meeting members of Britain’s disabled team.

He explained he was not afraid of going skiing but rather that he would no longer enjoy it as a disabled athlete.

Mr Farr continued: “I just fell in love with skiing and sport again – it made me find my competitive edge.

“Since then I have continued and got more and more involved with the team.”

After breaking his leg earlier this year – ironically during a physiotherapy session in the middle of skiing training – Mr Farr’s hopes of making the squad for 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver took a knock.

However, with at least three more qualifying races to go before the team is announced, he remains confident about realising his four year-long dream and competing for Britain next year.

The charity rugby match involves top university and club players and costs £5 on the day. Gates open at 12pm, the game kicks off at 3pm and there will live music afterwards.

The Backup Trust offers courses – from scaling mountains to drama workshops – to anyone with a spinal cord injury and provides adult and youth courses teaching wheelchair skills, which Mr Farr has helped lead.

For more information on the charity call 020 8875 1805 or visit backuptrust.org.uk.