Phil Packer News

Phil named in Telegraph Heroes of 2009 – Sir Ranulph Fiennes says “It is an honour to know such an exemplary, inspirational character”. When Major Packer was paralysed during a rocket attack while in Iraq in 2008, he faced a gruelling year of rehabilitation. So punishing is the regime at The Army’s treatment centre at Headley Court, near Dorking, Surrey, servicemen are encouraged to take a month’s rest between bouts. But Major Paker had other ideas. Instead, he raised £1.1 million for the Help the Heroes charity in a variety of strenuous challenges. In February, he rowed the Channel. In May, he completed the London marathon – it took him 14 agonising days on crutches – and in June, he climbed Yosemite National Park’s famous rock face, El Capitan, in California. ''I may have overstretched myself,’’ he says modestly. ''But when you are trying to fund-raise you end up saying 'yes’ to everything.’’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the British adventurer, writes: When Major Phil Packer crossed the finish line of the London Marathon on his crutches, some 14 days after he started the 26-mile race, it was one of the most humbling moments of the year – and one that gave the world a glimpse of the mix of grit and selflessness that powers this extraordinary man. Despite suffering catastrophic injuries in Iraq, he has defied medical opinion with every challenge that he has undertaken, from rowing the Channel solo to scaling the El Capitan mountain in Yosemite. That he has also raised well in excess £1 million for the Help For Heroes charity impresses me beyond words. It is an honour to know such an exemplary, inspirational character. Major Phil, I salute you. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/6890902/Heroes-of-2009.html

Special award The judges felt that one of the nominees, Maj Phil Packer, did not quite fit into any of the awards categories, but that his story is so remarkable that he should be given a special award to mark his extraordinary achievements. Maj Phil Packer, fundraising, Help for Heroes Maj Packer lost the use of his legs while on duty in Iraq and has since raised in excess of £1.1 million for Help for Heroes. He was injured in an incident following a rocket attack in Basra on February 19, 2008, and is now paraplegic. He was told he would never walk again, but, against doctors' advice, he completed this years' Flora London Marathon on crutches in 13 days; he's the first paraplegic ever to attempt to walk it. Last year, he rowed the English Channel solo, in just over 15 hours, and, recently, he climbed El Capitan mountain in Yosemite National Park, a sheer rockface ascent of 3,000ft. It took him four days-most able-bodied people take between three and five days. Maj Packer has also devoted a huge amount of time to providing information on sports and events, both to disabled servicemen and the wider disabled community as a whole. Help for Heroes founder Bryn Parry recalls: ‘Phil came to my office and was determined to climb the stairs unaided. He taped his legs together and pulled himself up. We talked about his ambition to do the Marathon in a wheelchair and he told me that he intended to raise £1 million. I thought both were unlikely, but not only has he proved me wrong, he is also standing and walking. I am in total admiration.'

SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY, DEPRIVED YOUNG PEOPLE & INJURED SERVICEMEN & WOMEN

Major Phil Packer completes the London Marathon. Paralysed during a rocket attack while serving in Iraq in early 2008, Major Phil Packer faced a gruelling year of rehabilitation. So punishing is the regime at the army's treatment centre at Headley Court, near Dorking, Surrey, that servicemen are encouraged to take a month off for rest between bouts of rehab. But Major Phil didn't use these months for rest. He had concocted a plan to raise £1m for disabled soldiers and, having recovered some of his mobility at Headley, spent his free months attempting an extraordinary sequence of challenges, all to be completed within 18 months of his accident. In February 2009 he rowed the Channel. In May he completed the London Marathon (on crutches, taking 14 days). Rounding things off, in June he climbed Yosemite National Park's famous rockface, El Capitan, in California. "I may have overstretched myself," the 36-year-old tells OSM. "But when you're trying to fundraise you end up saying yes to everything." The triple challenge had poignancy (the news that four British soldiers had died in combat, just as he completed his marathon) as well as mirth (reduced to hysterics whenever his legs gave way on the descent from El Capitan), and raised £1.2m for Hope For Heroes. In 2010, he wants to refocus his efforts on encouraging young disabled people to take up adaptive sports. But he has his eye on new adventures too. "Something to do with snow," he says.

Major Phil Packer completes the London Marathon. Paralysed during a rocket attack while serving in Iraq in early 2008, Major Phil Packer faced a gruelling year of rehabilitation. So punishing is the regime at the army's treatment centre at Headley Court, near Dorking, Surrey, that servicemen are encouraged to take a month off for rest between bouts of rehab. But Major Phil didn't use these months for rest. He had concocted a plan to raise £1m for disabled soldiers and, having recovered some of his mobility at Headley, spent his free months attempting an extraordinary sequence of challenges, all to be completed within 18 months of his accident. In February 2009 he rowed the Channel. In May he completed the London Marathon (on crutches, taking 14 days). Rounding things off, in June he climbed Yosemite National Park's famous rockface, El Capitan, in California. "I may have overstretched myself," the 36-year-old tells OSM. "But when you're trying to fundraise you end up saying yes to everything." The triple challenge had poignancy (the news that four British soldiers had died in combat, just as he completed his marathon) as well as mirth (reduced to hysterics whenever his legs gave way on the descent from El Capitan), and raised £1.2m for Hope For Heroes. In 2010, he wants to refocus his efforts on encouraging young disabled people to take up adaptive sports. But he has his eye on new adventures too. "Something to do with snow," he says.

Major Phil Packer completes the London Marathon. Paralysed during a rocket attack while serving in Iraq in early 2008, Major Phil Packer faced a gruelling year of rehabilitation. So punishing is the regime at the army's treatment centre at Headley Court, near Dorking, Surrey, that servicemen are encouraged to take a month off for rest between bouts of rehab. But Major Phil didn't use these months for rest. He had concocted a plan to raise £1m for disabled soldiers and, having recovered some of his mobility at Headley, spent his free months attempting an extraordinary sequence of challenges, all to be completed within 18 months of his accident. In February 2009 he rowed the Channel. In May he completed the London Marathon (on crutches, taking 14 days). Rounding things off, in June he climbed Yosemite National Park's famous rockface, El Capitan, in California. "I may have overstretched myself," the 36-year-old tells OSM. "But when you're trying to fundraise you end up saying yes to everything." The triple challenge had poignancy (the news that four British soldiers had died in combat, just as he completed his marathon) as well as mirth (reduced to hysterics whenever his legs gave way on the descent from El Capitan), and raised £1.2m for Hope For Heroes. In 2010, he wants to refocus his efforts on encouraging young disabled people to take up adaptive sports. But he has his eye on new adventures too. "Something to do with snow," he says.

Major Phil Packer to be honoured at Communicator of the Year Awards The British Association of Communicators in Business (CiB) has announced that it is to make the CiB Achievement Award to Major Phil Packer for his inspirational work promoting the Help for Heroes charity. Major Packer will be honoured at CiB’s prestigious Communicator of the Year awards ceremony on 27 November at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London. Following a devastating spinal cord injury sustained while serving in Iraq in 2008, Phil channeled himself into raising funds for Help for Heroes, having been inspired by its co-founders Bryn and Emma Parry. He caught the nation’s heart earlier this year when he took 13 days to complete the London Marathon, walking with the aid of crutches. Other challenges have included rowing the English Channel and climbing the El Capitan mountain face in Yosemite National Park, USA. To date, he has raised £1.2 million for the charity and increased public awareness of the challenges facing disabled service people, as well as highlighting what disabled people can achieve. Phil recently won a Pride of Britain Award for Fundraiser of the Year. Future goals include founding a support organisation to assist young people within the disabled community. CiB events director Suzanne Peck comments: "Phil has transcended difficult circumstances through singleness of purpose, enthusiasm and understanding how to connect with others and get his point across. In so doing, he has made a huge and lasting difference for many people in the UK, and I know that he will continue to have a major impact. He is a most deserving winner of the CiB Achievement Award."