Squash player a champion for children in need via Operation Santa Claus

It takes tough moments in life to achieve what Timothy Everest has, in fundraising and squash.

The Hong Kong-based Briton raised a record HK$2.1 million last year alone for Operation Santa Claus, the year-end charity fundraising campaign hosted by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.

That was 10 per cent of the HK$21 million total. And he hopes to beat that record in this year's campaign, which starts tonight.

Everest, a fur trader and one of last year's top three corporate fundraisers, organises the annual Wing Ding squash tournament, scheduled for November 22 at the Hong Kong football club.

A brush with trauma spurred him towards charity work. "It was in 2003 when I had a round of squash after a business trip in Toronto. I had a pulmonary embolism and collapsed. I almost didn't make it," he recalled.

"I was in the hospital bed for six weeks and had plenty of time to think: if I'd gone, what would my legacy be?" he said.