A father has battled the elements to raise money for the charity that saved his daughter’s life.

Peter Freeman, 57, cycled for three days across the Brecon Beacons in brutal conditions to raise money for the National Star.

The organisation provided support for his daughter Nicki when at 17 she was left with serious head injuries after a car crash.

Cyclists were blown off course and faced fierce crosswinds on the SAS training grounds, with only 300 out of the 6,000 entrant that lasted the three days.

Peter has so far raised £1,895 for the charity, with Julian Bear (the toy that had previously sat next to his daughter while she lay in intensive care) along for the ride.

He said: “The weather was brutal. On Saturday at the summit of the Black Mountain visibility was about 10 yards in the rain, and bikes were being blown across the cycle tracks by the wind.

“In 57 years I have never stayed out in such brutal conditions. I have walked in Wales, the Alps, and never been mad enough to go out in that.

“Getting off the bike at the end was definitely a highlight - and the organisers giving Julian Bear his own medal which Nicki is delighted with; not least as I wasn’t giving mine up!”

On the second day conditions were so bad, Peter found himself away from the guided route and forced to seek shelter until the organisers were able to guide him back on track.

Peter ended up back on track by day three, completing a shorter route but finishing strong for the charity.

His daughter Nicki has been supported by the charity since May 2010 when she had to be cut out of the car she had been driving to her school prom in heavy rain.

The crash left her in a coma, and the brain injuries she suffered were so bad she had to learn to walk again, and is still recovering seven years later.

Nikki was supported by the National Star specialist college in Cheltenham which helps young people with disabilities and acquired brain injuries regain confidence and independence.

Peter said: “We had no idea if Nicki would ever wake up after the accident. When she did she had to learn to do everything again, just as she had as a newborn baby.

“National Star’s focus on the individual’s needs and what they can do, not what they can’t, helped us maximise the outcomes for Nicki.

“Thanks to them Nicki is now living in her own flat and finishing a BTEC qualification at Oaklands College, St Albans.

“National Star has changed the life of thousands of young people with disabilities for the better.”

Visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamnickidragon to donate.