My BRIT 2012 mile blog;
sharing encounters and memories from every county of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland throughout 2012
2012 BRIT miles with a spinal
cord injury; the equivalent of 310 marathon distances in 331 days to support
young people post-trauma
Thanks to everyone for
supporting me on my toughest challenge
Day 331-Final Day of the BRIT
2012 Challenge
The final day of the BRIT 2012
Challenge! I was up early and said farewell to the staff of 51 Buckingham
Gate who have been extraordinarily generous to BRIT and me to gift
accommodation throughout December. Prabhat Verma, the General Manager, and
Araceli Rius-Perez, the Manager of 51 Buckingham Gate, kindly agreed to gift 18
nights of accommodation to me and set up a base for the walk. It has been a
pleasure to continue a very special relationship with the hotel and I am
sincerely grateful for all their support in 2011 and 2012.
From 51 Buckingham Gate, I travelled
to the Sky Studios for an interview with BRIT Mentor and friend, Eammon Holmes,
at Sky News. This was a great and positive start to the day.
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| Supported by Land Rover throughout the 331 days of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Then it was back in the BRIT Land
Rover and over to Canary Wharf. Jaguar Land Rover have been superb supporters
of BRIT for over two years and the gifted BRIT Land Rover has provided vital
support; particularly this year whilst travelling throughout Great Britain.
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| British Inspiration Trust Mentors, Adrian Wheeldon and Brian Turner CBE, with Phil Packer MBE on the final day of his BRIT 2012 Challenge - 310 equivalent marathon distances in 331 days through every county of the UK |
I was warmly greeted by BRIT
Mentor, Brian Turner CBE, and BRIT Young People’s Visionary Steering Group
member, Adrian Wheeldon. It felt really good to be here, although a little
bitter sweet as well. I’ve met so many incredible young people this year and
they were my daily inspiration to keep me moving forward, especially on the
days I was tired. On the other hand, my infections have been increasing in
frequency and I recognise that my body has been trying to tell me that I need
to slow down, so a rest is very much long overdue.
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| Phil Packer MBE was joined by Inspirational Figures including Ben Fogle to greet him as he completed the equivalent of 310 marathons in 331 days across the UK to raise awareness of the British Inspiration Trust |
Fortunately the weather held off
and although blustery at Canary Wharf it wasn’t raining. Considering I’ve been
drenched numerous times this year and the challenge began in the rain back in
January, I was happy to have no rain.
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| Supported by the Children's Trust on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
I started the walk around 1000
hours with only a couple of miles to complete before 1630 hours and was joined
throughout the day by numerous supporters, charities, BRIT Mentors and young people.
Speed Communications were absolutely fantastic and had organised around 16
different interviews throughout the day.
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| Supported by Speed Communications on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Chichester College, which has been
absolutely brilliant this year, brought a coach of students up to Canary Wharf
for the last day. I was also pleased to be joined by Shelagh Legrave, Principal,
Andrew Green, Deputy Principal, and Lisa Humphries, who has supported all our
visits and meetings to the college, and BRIT volunteer and former college staff
member, Trudy Baxter. It seemed only fitting that Chichester College was with
me today since the challenge began at Chichester College in January and I’ve
visited/walked on their campus several times throughout the year.
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| Supported by the Chichester College on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
The last two hours of the walk
was fantastic as the energy and enthusiasm from supporters was a tremendous
boost. I was deeply honoured that The Children’s Trust, Helen Rollason Cancer
Charity and the Douglas Bader Foundation (all of which I am a Vice-President,
Vice-Patron and Ambassador for) came out to join me, along with many other
charities including HRH Prince Charles’ charities Children and the Arts and Mosaic
as well as Arthritis Research UK, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Jigsaw, the
Youth Sport Trust and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
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| Supported by the Youth Sport Trust on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Local
school children also joined us which was an absolute honour. Members of the
BRIT Young People’s Visionary Steering Group came out including Joel Jeffers, Cat
Bull and Polly Hounsome. Sadly with the challenge this year I haven’t been able
to see them all, so this was just a great bonus to see Adrian, Cat, Polly and
Joel. Their support really made a difference.
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| Supported by London Fire Brigade on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
In addition the London Fire
Services came, which seemed appropriate and fitting as the Fire and Rescue
Services have been with me on almost every day of the challenge. I think it’s only
been days when they’ve been called to an emergency that they have not shown up.
I truly respect the members of the Fire Services for the difficult job they do
every day protecting the rest of us.
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| Supported by the Douglas Bader Foundation on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Major General Julian Free CBE, my
last commander when I was serving in the Armed Forces, came to support the last
day of the walk as well. Given my connections to the military I was honoured
that he came out to join me and the other supporters. The military have been
supportive throughout the entire year, especially Lieutenant Colonel John
Maddison MBE RN, who was at Chichester College for the early planning meetings
in January and coordinated many of the walking days and military visits for me.
John is an incredible friend and I appreciate that the time he spent on BRIT
was time away from his family.
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| Supported by Oli Dudley, Sally Kettle, Michael McGrath & Matt Parsons on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
I was thrilled to be joined by
BRIT Mentors throughout the day, including Ben Fogle, Michael McGrath, Oli
Dudley, Sally Kettle, Ben Parkinson MBE and Brian Turner CBE.
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| Supported by Clare & George Vaux on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
The BRIT
Trustees, Martin Lewis, Mike Peckham and Darren Whittingham, all showed up to
walk with me and BRIT Coordinator, Clare Dunbar-Pollard, who voluntarily
arranged and managed my walking schedule for me was there, along with BRIT
Volunteers, Jeanne Brooke–Barnett, Thalia Temmerman and Alison Hounsome, and
BRIT photographer, Helen Stuttard.
Last, but no means least, my Mum,
Angela, and my Uncle, Mike, came to show their support, along with many friends
throughout the day.
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| Phil Packer MBE with Ben Fogle and Michael McGrath who are Mentors to the British Inspiration Trust & joined Phil on the final day of his epic BRIT 2012 challenge 310 marathons in 331 days for young people |
It was a fantastic feeling to
finish the challenge. The 2012 miles was often difficult, especially when I was
ill. The best part of the year though has been meeting young people all over
the UK and listening to their stories of adversity. The young people I have met
this year have taught me a great deal. I am still learning, but after this
year, I am more determined than ever to build the BRIT Centre in West Sussex
for charities to send their young people to a residential course to help them
begin rebuilding their self-confidence and self-belief. While this phase of
BRIT is now over, the next phase will be fundraising in the New Year to get the
money to start building the Centre.
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| Supported by the Thalia Temmerman, Darren Whittingham & James Kydd on the final day of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
At the end of the challenge,
after everyone had left Canary Wharf, I was standing with the BRIT Team
reflecting on the walk and the year. There’s a great deal more work to be done,
but it was a nice moment to celebrate quietly with those that have been with me
all year on the challenge. Unfortunately I didn’t have too much time to reflect
as it was back in the Land Rover and then up to Salford for an interview with
BBC Breakfast first thing the next morning. After a long drive I got to my
hotel and promptly shaved off my beard as it’s the end of the walk and time to
hang up the walking shoes and put on the suit and focus on my role as Non-Paid
Chief Executive of BRIT.
My thanks to everyone who has
supported me throughout 2012 and I am looking forward to personally thanking so
many people who have made the BRIT 2012 mile walk possible in the New Year.
Best wishes,
Phil