Phil Packer
Encyclopedia
Phil Packer, MBE
(born 1972) is a former British
Provost Officer
who suffered severe spinal cord injuries whilst on active service in February 2008. Despite being told at the time that he would never walk again, he has since undertaken a number of physical challenges for charity, including walking the London Marathon in 2009 over 14 days. His fundraising efforts have raised well over a million pounds, gaining national media attention and several national awards. Packer has since founded the British Inspiration Trust, which aims to support young people facing adversity.
in Iraq
, when his base in Basra
came under attack on 19 February 2008. He suffered a bruised heart
, broken rib
s, and catastrophic spinal injuries. Doctors who treated him at the time told him he would never walk again, and although there has since been a slight improvement in his condition, his thighs and upper legs remain completely paralyzed.
Despite his injuries, Packer found himself inspired during his treatment and convalescence by those around him whom he felt were less fortunate than himself. First at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
(RNOH) in London
, and then at the Headley Court military rehabilitation centre in Surrey
, he met other soldiers recovering from severe injuries sustained on the battlefield. "If you see a 19-year-old who has had a triple amputation and is trying to make the most of it", he said in May 2009, while competing in his second London Marathon
, "I can’t imagine what that is like. I just want to do this for him."
His three main challenges in 2009 were completed within six months. He rowed the English Channel
with Al Humphreys on 14 February, less than a year after his injury.
Next he entered the 2009 London Marathon. Because of his ongoing therapy—he had only been walking on crutches for a month—his doctors recommended that he walk no more than two miles a day, and consequently it took him thirteen days to complete the course, the longest time in the event's history. Hundreds of people turned out to cheer as he reached the finish line, and he was presented with his finisher's medal by Sir Steve Redgrave
. By the end of the marathon he had raised £637,000 for Help for Heroes
, a charity dedicated to disabled ex-servicemen.
The same year with support from an expert climbing team including Andrew Kirkpatrick
, Packer scaled El Capitan
, the granite cliff in Yosemite National Park
. This involved over 4,200 pull-ups and sleeping suspended on the side of the mountain for 3 days. In total he raised over £1.3 million for Help for Heroes in 2009.
In 2010 Packer and BBC presenter Kate Silverton
took part in the National Three Peaks Challenge
for Sport Relief
, climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in 72 hours. They were supported by Al Humphreys, Andy Kirkpatrick and Martyn Bird, and joined on Mount Snowdon by Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Clive Woodward
. The challenge was the focus of the BBC documentary "A Major Mountain to Climb".
He also took part in the 2010 London Marathon, this time walking each mile with a young person from a different charity, raising money and awareness for 26 charities. He completed the marathon in his new target time of 26 hours.
awards, was "Fundraiser of the Year" at the Pride of Britain Awards
, was named "Most intrepid man" by The Observer
newspaper, and received the Athlete of the Year Badge from The Scout Association
.
Packer was made an MBE
in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2010 for his fundraising work, and also received the Jane Tomlinson Inspiration Award from Runner's World. He also serves as a patron or ambassador to seventeen charities, including The Prince's Trust
, the NSPCC
, Cardiac Risk in the Young
, Help for Heroes
, the Army Benevolent Fund
, the Football Foundation
, Combat Stress
, the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
, the National Autistic Society
, and the British Legion.
The Trust was launched with an event at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister David Cameron. It has received the backing of numerous celebrities, including Ranulph Fiennes
, Richard Branson
and paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1972) is a former British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Provost Officer
Regimental Police
Regimental Police , sometimes called Regimental Provost Staff in the United Kingdom, are soldiers responsible for regimental discipline enforcement and unit custody in the British Army, some other Commonwealth armies and some armed forces structured in the British tradition...
who suffered severe spinal cord injuries whilst on active service in February 2008. Despite being told at the time that he would never walk again, he has since undertaken a number of physical challenges for charity, including walking the London Marathon in 2009 over 14 days. His fundraising efforts have raised well over a million pounds, gaining national media attention and several national awards. Packer has since founded the British Inspiration Trust, which aims to support young people facing adversity.
Injuries and inspiration
Packer was a major with 115 Provost Company, a unit of the Royal Military PoliceRoyal Military Police
The Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, when his base in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
came under attack on 19 February 2008. He suffered a bruised heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
, broken rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
s, and catastrophic spinal injuries. Doctors who treated him at the time told him he would never walk again, and although there has since been a slight improvement in his condition, his thighs and upper legs remain completely paralyzed.
Despite his injuries, Packer found himself inspired during his treatment and convalescence by those around him whom he felt were less fortunate than himself. First at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is a specialist orthopaedic hospital located in London, United Kingdom and a part of Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust...
(RNOH) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and then at the Headley Court military rehabilitation centre in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, he met other soldiers recovering from severe injuries sustained on the battlefield. "If you see a 19-year-old who has had a triple amputation and is trying to make the most of it", he said in May 2009, while competing in his second London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, "I can’t imagine what that is like. I just want to do this for him."
Fundraising efforts
Packer, a self-confessed "adrenaline junkie", began attempting gruelling physical challenges both to raise money, and to help himself recuperate psychologically from losing the use of his legs.His three main challenges in 2009 were completed within six months. He rowed the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
with Al Humphreys on 14 February, less than a year after his injury.
Next he entered the 2009 London Marathon. Because of his ongoing therapy—he had only been walking on crutches for a month—his doctors recommended that he walk no more than two miles a day, and consequently it took him thirteen days to complete the course, the longest time in the event's history. Hundreds of people turned out to cheer as he reached the finish line, and he was presented with his finisher's medal by Sir Steve Redgrave
Steve Redgrave
Sir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave CBE is an English rower who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. He has also won three Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine World Rowing Championships gold medals...
. By the end of the marathon he had raised £637,000 for Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
, a charity dedicated to disabled ex-servicemen.
The same year with support from an expert climbing team including Andrew Kirkpatrick
Andrew Kirkpatrick (climber)
Andrew Kirkpatrick, usually known as Andy Kirkpatrick, is a British mountaineer, author, motivational speaker and monologist.-Biography:...
, Packer scaled El Capitan
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
, the granite cliff in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
. This involved over 4,200 pull-ups and sleeping suspended on the side of the mountain for 3 days. In total he raised over £1.3 million for Help for Heroes in 2009.
In 2010 Packer and BBC presenter Kate Silverton
Kate Silverton
Kate Silverton is an English journalist, currently employed by the BBC.- Early life and education :Silverton was born in Essex, England, the daughter of English parents; Terry Silverton, a black-cab driver turned registered hypnotherapist and Patricia Silverton, who now heads her daughter's...
took part in the National Three Peaks Challenge
National Three Peaks Challenge
The National Three Peaks Challenge is a mountain-endurance challenge in Great Britain, with a history of over 40 years, in which participants attempt to climb the highest peaks of each of the island's three countries...
for Sport Relief
Sport Relief
Sport Relief is a biennial charity event from Comic Relief, in association with BBC Sport, which brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world's poorest countries...
, climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in 72 hours. They were supported by Al Humphreys, Andy Kirkpatrick and Martyn Bird, and joined on Mount Snowdon by Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Clive Woodward
Clive Woodward
Sir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
. The challenge was the focus of the BBC documentary "A Major Mountain to Climb".
He also took part in the 2010 London Marathon, this time walking each mile with a young person from a different charity, raising money and awareness for 26 charities. He completed the marathon in his new target time of 26 hours.
Recognition and awards
In 2009, he won the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the YearBBC Sports Personality of the Year
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of one titular award. Several new awards have been introduced, and , eight awards are presented. The oldest of these are the Team of the Year and...
awards, was "Fundraiser of the Year" at the Pride of Britain Awards
Pride of Britain Awards
The Pride of Britain Awards is an annual event in the United Kingdom, honouring ordinary people who have acted bravely or extraordinarily in challenging situations....
, was named "Most intrepid man" by The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
newspaper, and received the Athlete of the Year Badge from The Scout Association
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
.
Packer was made an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2010 for his fundraising work, and also received the Jane Tomlinson Inspiration Award from Runner's World. He also serves as a patron or ambassador to seventeen charities, including The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
, the NSPCC
NSPCC
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a United Kingdom charity campaigning and working in child protection.-History:...
, Cardiac Risk in the Young
Cardiac Risk in the Young
Cardiac Risk in the Young is a humanitarian charitable organization helping to raise awareness of cardiac risk, Sudden Cardiac Death , Sudden Death Syndrome . Established in May 1995 by Alison Cox and based in the United Kingdom. The former tennis player Mark Cox is one of its patrons...
, Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
, the Army Benevolent Fund
Army Benevolent Fund
ABF The Soldiers' Charity, formerly the Army Benevolent Fund is a British charity. It is the British Army's national charity and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, former soldiers, and their families in times of need....
, the Football Foundation
Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the United Kingdom’s largest sports charity, investing £40m into communities each year thanks to money provided by its funding partners the Premier League, The FA and the Government...
, Combat Stress
Combat Stress
Combat Stress is a UK charity offering residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues....
, the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity is a cancer charity in the United Kingdom which funds cancer support centres and research into the disease. It was founded in 1999 and is the legacy of Helen Rollason MBE, who died of cancer aged 43...
, the National Autistic Society
National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society is a British charity for people with autistic spectrum disorders , including autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The purpose of the organisation is primarily to improve of the lives of people with Autism in the United Kingdom.Founded in 1962 as the Autistic Children's Aid...
, and the British Legion.
British Inspiration Trust
In 2010 Phil Packer founded the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT), which aims to "deliver inspiration to Young People facing Adversity (who are physically or mentally disabled, deprived, have medical conditions, are injured or wounded)". BRIT is intended to be "a charity for charities", and have inspirational figures acting as BRIT Mentors to young people. In the long term the aim is to create a Centre of Inspirational Excellence to support charities.The Trust was launched with an event at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister David Cameron. It has received the backing of numerous celebrities, including Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
, Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
and paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Carys Davina "Tanni" Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, DBE is a Welsh athlete and TV presenter.Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. She is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK...
.