Published at 19:24, Thursday, 14 June 2012

INSPIRATIONAL charity fund-raiser Phil Packer will visit Netherhall School in Maryport next week.

INSPIRATION: Phil Packer

Mr Packer, who suffered severe spinal injuries as a serving soldier in Afghanistan in 2008, was told he would never walk again.

He beat the odds and won the hearts and minds of British people in 2010 when he completed the London Marathon route in 26 hours, raising money for 26 charities.

This smashed his previous record when he did the marathon on crutches over 14 days.

He has raised millions of pounds for his own charity, the British Inspiration Trust (Brit).

Now he is engaged in a 2012 walk, covering 2,012 miles to mark the Queen’s jubilee, the Olympics and to raise money to build a centre for charities to support troubled young people.

He will speak to pupils at Netherhall School next Wednesday, and some pupils will be invited to join him in one mile of his 2012-mile challenge. It will cost £1 to enter, with all the money going to charity.

Mr Packer will be joined on this mile by Maryport tot Lillie-Mai Jackson and her parents. Lillie-Mai lost both her legs and an arm to meningitis when she was four months old.

Also joining in will be children, staff and parents from Mayfield School in Whitehaven.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk