Phil Packer has chosen Yorkshire-based national charity Epilepsy Action as one of his 26 charities to take part in this year’s Virgin London Marathon.
At 10.00 am on Sunday 25 April, Phil will start the Virgin London Marathon and finish the 26 miles 26 hours later at 12.00 am on Monday 26 April. Phil aims to inspire young people living with disabilities and encourage them to reach their potential. He will walk each mile with a support walker between the ages of 16 and 25, who will be nominated by each charity. All the walkers will have received direct support from their charity.
Phil has raised £1.3 million for charity since he suffered serious spinal injuries in 2008 while serving in the British Armed Forces. He rowed the English Channel, walked the Flora London Marathon over 14 days and hauled himself up El Capitan (over 4250 pull ups in three days), all within a six month period last year.
Epilepsy Action will announce its chosen support walker next week after launching a nationwide competition to find an inspirational young person with epilepsy to represent the charity. The chosen walker will help raise awareness of epilepsy, a neurological condition that is often over-looked and misunderstood.
Phil said: “My own personal journey over the past two years and the relationships I have established with a number of charities, young people with disabilities and their families, has increased my knowledge and understanding of the challenges those living with disability face daily.
“I am delighted to be supporting Epilepsy Action and its vision to live in a society where everyone understands epilepsy and where attitudes towards the condition are based on fact not fiction.
“I hope that by raising awareness, we can gain support to bring about the permanent change for the social and medical benefit of people with epilepsy, provide advice and information, promote research and engage with the Education, Healthcare and Social Care sectors to ensure epilepsy is fully understood and the needs of people with epilepsy are supported.”
Philippa Cartwright, fundraising events manager at Epilepsy Action, said: “We are thrilled and honoured that Phil has chosen Epilepsy Action as one of his benefitting charities. The funds raised are vital in helping the 38,074 people with epilepsy across Yorkshire. But we can only do it with your help. As the only Yorkshire charity chosen, we hope local people will really get behind us and show their support by sponsoring Phil.”
To sponsor Phil and support Epilepsy Action, please visit www.epilepsy.org.uk/philpacker from today.