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Inspirational Phil calls in to Eastbourne
on epic charity walk
Mark Sawyer, full time coxswain, Eastbourne RNLI, Phil Packer MBE, Paul Metcalfe, Lifeboat operations manager, Eastbourne RNLI, and Mary Evans
AN INSPIRATIONAL army major who was told he would never walk again came to Eastbourne last week as part of his 2,012-mile walk around the UK.
Phil Packer was injured in Iraq in 2008 and suffered spinal injury but has refused to let his injuries stop his sporting achievements.
He applied to do the London marathon in his wheelchair and ended up walking it as some feeling has returned to his legs.
The courageous soldier climbed El Capitan, the 3,000 feet granite monolith in the Yosemite National Park in California, and he rowed the Channel.
Phil also walked the Three Peaks with Kate Silvertonefor Comic Relief. Phil has received a Pride of Britain awards, and was also honoured with an MBE.
His latest challenge is a 2,012-mile walk. He started the trek in Chichester a week ago before coming to Eastbourne to walk ten miles along the seafront with the help of Eastbourne’s RNLI.
Phil was met at the lifeboat station in Sovereign Harbour by Eastbourne’s RNLI coxswain Mark Sawyer and a distant relative, Mary Evans, who had been following Phil’s progress after discovering he was her cousin on a family tree website.
Mrs Evans, who has lived in Eastbourne for around a year, was excited to meet Phil before he started his walk.
Money raised from the walk will be used to support Phil’s charity BRIT which supports young people who face adversity.
He has spent the last year partnering with charities and will build a centre in West Sussex for charities to send their young people.
To find out more visit www.philpacker.com or www.britishinspirationtrust.org.uk
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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