Several signed Chiefs jerseys have popped up on Trade Me as sellers use the team's popularity to help raise funds for charity.

Former King Country rugby referee Blair Pitts-Brown hopes his signed Chiefs jersey will raise plenty of cash for the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance while the team at Gilmours in Hamilton are auctioning a jersey to raise funds for the Child Cancer Foundation.

Mr Pitts-Brown's family of four were involved in a horror car crash near Te Anga in January 2010 when their car collided with the trailer of a rubbish truck.

A police report found the truck had crossed the centreline on a sharp bend, with the trailer fish- tailing as the driver tried to correct the heavy vehicle in wet conditions.

After the crash, the Otorohanga pig farmer spent 39 days in a coma and his family were told to plan for a worst-case scenario.

However, Mr Pitts-Brown, 40, defied the odds.

He has made a significant recovery after his life-threatening head injuries.

Mr Pitts-Brown is now training to compete in the Auckland marathon in October.

The avid Chiefs fan hoped he would also be fast enough to secure tickets to Saturday's Super Rugby final when they went on sale to the public.

"It could be difficult but I'm hoping we'll get them all right," Mr Pitts-Brown said.

He also hoped to raise plenty of money for the Waikato rescue helicopter, to which he said he "owes his life".

"There is no doubt in my mind that the service saved me when I needed it most and so it's time for me to give back," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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