Phil Packer, front row, third from right, at the start of his Island walk at St George's School. Picture by Peter Boam.
THE inspirational Phil Packer brought to the Isle of Wight his message that people can achieve — against all the odds.
Just eight days after he began his marathon effort to trek 2012 miles around the UK, he completed ten of them on the Island.
Phil was a major in the army when he was injured in Iraq in 2008. He was told his spinal injury would mean he would never walk again.
Despite that he applied to compete in the London Marathon in his wheelchair, but, as some feeling returned to his legs, he ended up walking the course.
It took him two weeks but the effort catapulted him to international fame and resulted in him raising £1 million for Help for Heroes.
Phil is undertaking the marathon walk to promote his charity, the British Inspiration Trust, and started his day on the Island at St George’s School, Newport, by walking a mile around the campus.
• Full story in the Friday, February 3, County Press.
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk