Two years ago, Mr Wilson was working on a hilly area of his 4500ha sheep and beef farm at Kuriwao, near Clinton, when he was badly injured in a quad bike accident. His back was broken in four places when his quad bike lost traction on a hill and rolled on top of him.
Fortunately, the accident occurred within cellphone range and he was able to call his wife for help. A short time later, the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter dropped in and flew him to Dunedin Hospital.
"The rescue crew was just amazing, and arrived so quickly. They do a fantastic job and we're very fortunate to have such a good service."
He said he fully recovered from the accident, something he puts down to the rapid response from emergency services.
Mr Wilson was one of many involved with an auction organised by the Clinton Lions Club to raise money for the trust. About 300 people attended the event in the Clinton Community Centre on June 30 and the event raised $54,000.
He hopes other rural groups will follow their lead and help fund a vital service.
Mr Wilson said the group had aimed to raise $15,000 to $20,000, so the final total of more than $50,000 was "amazing".
Agricultural contractors and businesses pitched in to support the event and one family gave an anonymous donation of $5000.
Club members will hand over a cheque for $60,000 at the helicopter's Taieri base at 2pm tomorrow.
Together, Clinton and Lawrence raised more than $80,000 this year for the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, prompting trust chairman Ross Black to describe the support as "truly outstanding".
"It's nothing short of brilliant.
"There's really no other way to describe it," he said.
"We get marvellous support from our entire community, but the outstanding areas are Clinton, Lawrence, and Clydevale."
In Lawrence, a "Stars in Your Eyes" concert raised $35,000 for the rescue helicopter.
Bill Bazley said he and his wife, Sharon, started the two-yearly event six years ago, handing over the event to the Lawrence Lions Club this year.
The concert has raised a total of $101,000 for the rescue helicopter over three events.
