Bradford College

War Hero Phil Packer MBE 2012 BRIT Challenge Comes to Bradford College

Bradford College welcomed Phil Packer on his 2012 BRIT Challenge and staff and students joined him in walking 6 miles around the College’s Trinity Green campus.

Phil Packer MBE has embarked on an inspirational challenge to raise awareness of adversity in young people by walking 2012 miles throughout 2012 across the UK, in every County of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to launch the BRIT (British Inspirations Trust) 2012 Challenge to encourage youth participation and also for the public to take part to support charities across the UK. 

Phil is an incredibly inspirational man who has overcome many difficulties in his life. Phil suffered spinal cord injury in 2008 whilst serving with Her Majesty’s Forces.  In 2009 he rowed the Channel, walked the London Marathon over 14 days and hauled himself up El Capitan the US.  He raised 1.3 million for the wounded and that year became Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards and was given the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
 

In 2010, he turned his attention and main focus to supporting young people who face adversity. He climbed the 3 Peaks in 72 hours for Sport Relief and then completed the London Marathon in 26 hours for 26 charities, walking each mile with a young person from each of the charities.  He is the Founder and Non-Paid Chief Executive of the British Inspiration Trust.  

Through the BRIT challenge Phil intends to build an eco-friendly Centre of Inspirational Excellence in West Sussex for young people who face a lack of self-belief and adversity. Numerous charities will then able to send young people there for short residential courses aimed at building their self- worth and self-confidence. 

Before he set off on his walk around the College campus Phil was treated to a tour around the College’s sporting facilities and met up with the Nigerian Olympic Boxing team training in the Boxing Academy Centre.