Major Phil Packer – Pride of Britain's Fundraiser of the Year 2009
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On 19th Feb 2008, Major Phil Packer was injured in an incident following a rocket attack in Basra. Sadly, as a result of the accident he lost the use of his legs and is now a paraplegic with what are classed as catastrophic injuries. He was originally told he would never walk again.
While Phil was recovering from surgery in hospital, he decided to embark upon a quest that would change his life forever; by doing so, he hoped that he could help change lives too. He visited Help for Heroes and was inspired by Bryn and Emma Parry, Mark Elliott and their team’s work at Help for Heroes. He pledged to raise £1million for Help for Heroes and to try to help in making a difference to fellow injured Servicemen and women.
Phil says: “2008 was a difficult year and I experienced a wealth of emotions. However with faith, hope and friendship, my life has changed around and I want to use it now to make positive difference to others with determination, teamwork and dignity. But I cannot do this alone. George Eliot wrote 'What we do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for others?' I do need support to reach that £1million target.
"Like the other thousands of fundraisers who support Help for Heroes, I have reasons for feeling so passionate about this charity. Whilst in hospital I really needed something to pull me through some very dark and lonely days: Help for Heroes has done this and really helped me cope with what has happened. The team at Help for Heroes show compassion, understanding and sincerity in all that they do and the donations they receive are used to support fellow injured Servicemen and women, many who have injuries far worse than mine and they make their lives better in so many ways”.
Within a year of his injuries, Phil had completed many extraordinary challenges to raise money for Help for Heroes, from rowing across the English Channel to spending two weeks walking the London Marathon. He recently won the Pride of Britain award for Fundraiser of the Year 2009, recognising his work in aid of Help for Heores. To see a video of Phil accepting his award, visit www.philpacker.com.
Phil was Medically Discharged from the Army in February 2010 and is now putting all his energy into the British Inspiration Trust, an organisation that will support young people within the disabled community, and continuing his charity work. In 2009 he smashed his original £1 million target and continues to accept support in aid of Help for Heroes. By August 2010 he had received over £1.3 million in sponsorship money.
Support for Major Phil Packer:
Bryn Parry, H4H Co-founder:
"Phil came to my office in 2008 and was determined to climb the stairs unaided. He taped his legs together and pulled himself up the stairs. We talked about his ambitious plans to do the London Marathon in a wheelchair and he told me that he intended to raise £1 million. I thought both were unlikely but now not only has he proved me wrong, he is also standing and walking. I am in total admiration for Phil and his achievements.
"On behalf of everyone at Help for Heroes I would like to congratulate him and look forward to the day when he can run the marathon."
HRH The Prince of Wales:
"Having heard the splendid news that you have completed the London Marathon and been successful in raising the extraordinary sum of £1 million for Help for Heroes, I just wanted to write and send you my most heartfelt congratulations.
"This really is a remarkable achievement. My admiration for you is, I am sure, shared by your countless supporters, friends and family. I need scarcely add that such a sum will make the most enormous difference to the work that this wonderful charity which provides such vital support to our Armed Forces and Veterans.
"You are an immense credit to this country of ours which is, without doubt, more fortunate than it realises in having such dedicated people as yourself serving in our Armed Forces. This is with my kindest good wishes and much gratitude for all your efforts."
To assist him with the opportunity to gain support from key figures within the House of Lords and House of Commons, Phil will have an office made available from the Prime Minister within The Palace of Westminster.
If you want to support Phil, you can find out more and donate at www.justgiving.com/philsmillion. For more information on his challenges, visit his website at www.philpacker.com.
In June 2009 Phil acheived his greatest feat yet; he flew to the USA to climb El Capitan; a 3000-foot (910 m) vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park. Phil was challenged by climber Andy Kirkpatrick (who was once described by Metro magazine as making 'Ray Mears look like Paris Hilton'), who also climbed with Phil during the 80 hour haul.
Using just his arms, Phil pulled himself up the rocks along with a small team of mountaineers. They slept in tents hanging from the rock face and throughout the challenge Major Packer did the equivalent of 4,254 pull-ups.
To see videos of the climb and more information about Phil's challenges, visit his website, or donate through his Justgiving page.
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52,400 steps, 13 days, 1 Marathon
Major Phil Packer defied doctors to complete the London marathon, 13 days after he started the 26.2-mile course. He walked two miles a day on crutches after starting with other competitors on 26th April, becoming the first paraplegic to attempt to walk the Flora London Marathon. Phil walked with the use of crutches and was set a limit on how far he could walk each day to ensure he protected his body, set by his Consultant, Lt Col Alan Mistlin.
As he crossed the finishing line, at St James’s Park on the Mall, he said the feeling was “bittersweet” coming so soon after more serving soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan. He was presented with his London marathon finisher’s medal by Sir Steve Redgrave after completing the course.
To see who walked with Phil, visit his website, and don't forget to sponsor him here!
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Rowing the English Channel
Phil's first big challenge for 2009 was to row the English Channel.
Accompanied by Al Humphreys, Phil set out at midnight on the 14th February 2009 and rowed 30 miles in fifteen and a half hours. He trained in between his rehabilitation at Headley Court and hired a Concept 2 Rower so he could train in the evenings in his flat in London. Phil and Al organised two weeks of coaching from Simon Goodey, a Great Britain Paralympic Coach who taught them techniques for their journey. In spite of the snow that fell in February, freezing temperatures and rough sea, the pair were determined to complete the challenge before Phil had to return for further rehabilitation in Headley Court in early March.
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Three weeks before the row, some feeling returned to Phil’s right leg, which made the row particularly difficult. This change to his body meant that he would encounter an increase in pain for the row. This, coupled with Phil’s body being unable to regulate temperature in his right leg, meant this was a real mental and physical challenge for him.
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Visit Phil's website here, or donate to his Justgiving page here.