Phil Packer

File:Wikipedia photo phil packer.jpg

Phil Packer

Phil Packer MBE (born in Kent in 1972) is the Founder and Non-Paid Chief Executive of the British Inspiration Trust.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Phil sustained a spinal cord Injury in February 2008 and since then, continues to inspire millions. His focus is supporting Young People who face Adversity. He has made this his business. As he began to cope with the situation he found himself in, to regain self-confidence, self-esteem, self-belief and feel empowered to make choices in life, Phil decided to embark upon numerous physical challenges to raise funds for charity, raise positive awareness and enthuse others. His decisions pulled him through the dark times and he started to overcome the adversity faced with physical limitations and this improved his mental well-being.

2009 Achievements and Challenges

His three main challenges in 2009 were completed within six months. He rowed the Channel with Al Humphreys on 14th February, just after a year of being injured and he walked the London Marathon over 14 days on crutches with support from his great friend, Martyn Bird. Phil captivated the nation throughout his two-week ordeal. He then flew out to the USA and hauled himself up El Capitan with a support team of some of the country’s best climbers including Andy Kirkpatrick; he completed over 4,250 pull-ups and slept on the side of the Mountain for 3 days before reaching the summit. Phil raised in excess of £1.3million for charity in 2009. His efforts inspired millions and gained national recognition including the Athlete of the Year Badge from the Scout Association, Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards and the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The Armed Forces also recognised his efforts prior to his retirement in March 2010 and he was awarded the MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

2010 Achievements and Challenges

In 2010, Phil stepped up to the mark again and in addition to supporting the wounded, he turned his attention and main focus to supporting Young People who face Adversity. To continue his physical challenges and to inspire Young People, he climbed the 3 Peaks in 72 hours for Sport Relief with BBC Presenter, Kate Silverton. He was joined on Mount Snowdon by Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Clive Woodward. This became the feature for the BBC Inside Sport Documentary “A Major Mountain to Climb” that followed his Journey. He then completed his biggest challenge; the opportunity to bring charities together and raise awareness of numerous disabilities, deprivation and medical conditions. On the 25th/26th April 2010, Phil smashed his 14 day London Marathon time and completed the Virgin London Marathon in 26 hours for 26 charities, walking each mile with a Young Person from each of the charities. The greater awareness of the various charities’ work and the inspiration Phil gave to the Young People and the public was immense and immeasurable.

The Future

Phil understands emotional intelligence and where he can make the strongest impact. He supports numerous charities that support Young People facing Adversity as well as Service Charities that support our Wounded and our Veterans. He has become an Ambassador and Envoy for all those he represents and his aspiration is to build a Centre of Inspirational Excellence for Young People facing Adversity. Through the British Inspiration Trust, Phil aims to fuse charities together by providing a hub of best practice at the BRIT Centre and to bring corporations and businesses together to provide work experience and employment support to Young People facing Adversity (who are physically or mentally disabled, deprived, have medical conditions, are injured or wounded). Phil is calling upon Inspirational Figures from every Sector of Society to become BRIT Mentors and use inspiration to enthuse and empower Young People. He is urging the country to join him on this journey, give their support and believe that Everything is Possible.

One of Phil’s BRIT Mentors said;

“Phil’s British Inspiration Trust is visionary; it will unite charities, provide opportunities for any corporation to assist and will bring together our nation’s inspirational figures from every sector of society to enthuse young people who face adversity. I know Phil needs Inspirational Figures to step forward as BRIT Mentors and give 24 hrs of their year at the Centre; the more that volunteer, the more impact we will have to enthuse the next generation. I stand by Phil; I urge others to join the BRIT family”.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes BT OBE Explorer and BRIT Mentor

AWARDS

In 2009 he won the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, was awarded “Fundraiser of the Year” at the Pride of Britain Awards, was named “Most Intrepid Man” by the Observer Newspaper and won the “Athlete of the Year” Scout Badge, voted by the Scout Movement.

In 2010 he was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and won “The Jane Tomlinson Inspiration Award” at the Runner’s World Awards.

OFFICIAL ROLLS

Over the last year two years the National Media and British Public have supported and joined Phil Packer in his quest to support Young People who are physically disabled, mentally disabled, deprived, injured or wounded. A year after being paralysed and having been told that it was highly unlikely that he would walk again, Phil undertook a number of challenges in 2009 including rowing the English Channel, walking the London Marathon (in 14 days) and Climbing El Capitan by completing 4,250 pull-ups over 4 days (all within a six month period). During 2010 he climbed the 3 Peaks for Sport Relief in 72 hours with BBC Breakfast’s Kate Silverton and the support at Mount Snowdon of Sir Clive Woodward and Sir Steve Redgrave. He then went on to complete the Virgin London Marathon in 26 hours for 26 charities, with a Young Person from each charity joining Phil for their mile. All the Young People joined him for the final 365 Yards, just under 26 hours after he crossed the start line.

His realization that experiencing difficult and dark days when coping with disability can be hard for many, led Phil to leave the Armed Forces after 17 years and channel his energy into supporting young people with disabilities and deprived young people. Phil’s main role is with his British Inspiration Trust that will be launched in December 2010, however he also has a number of other official roles in support of other charities and organisations;

Ambassador of The Prince’s Trust

Ambassador of The Calvert Trust

Ambassador of The Douglas Bader Foundation

Ambassador of The Football Federation’s Inside Right Programme

Special Ambassador of The Army Benevolent Fund – The Soldiers’ Charity

Special Ambassador of Royal Yachting Association Sailability

Special Ambassador of Chelsea Auto Legends in support of The Royal Hospital Chelsea

Patron of Help for Heroes

Patron of Cardiac Risk in the Young

Patron of NSPCC Team GO

Patron of the Nichols Spinal Injury Association

Envoy of Combat Stress

Envoy of The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund

External links

• www.philpacker.com
• www.britishinspirationtrust.co.uk