He made it!

Last weekend I wrote about Major Phil Packer, a British army officer who was critically injured in Iraq. Despite being almost completely paralyzed from the waist down, he decided to participate in the London Marathon in an effort to raise funds for British war wounded.

Today comes the news that he made it!




Hobbling on crutches for two hours per day (the maximum allowed by his doctors), he completed the course in 13 days, 2 hours and 50 minutes. That's a heck of a lot slower than the winner's time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 10 seconds, but considering his ordeal, it's probably an even greater achievement.

The Daily Mail reports:

Crossing the finishing line in The Mall, Major Packer was greeted by well-wishers and awarded his medal by Olympics legend Sir Steve Redgrave.

‘I’ve walked 52,400 steps and somebody has walked with me every step of the way, be it a dinner lady or a London taxi driver,’ said the Royal Military Police officer.

‘I’ve had time to talk to people and they have really opened up about their feelings about the Armed Services. It has been humbling.’

Major Packer hopes to raise £1million for the soldiers’ charity Help For Heroes.

After he crossed the finishing line, he said the feeling was 'bitter sweet' as it came soon after the news of four more deaths in Afghanistan.

He said: 'There were others who are coming back injured and my thoughts are really with their families at the moment.'

He said the injured would be treated at the military rehabilitation facility Headley Court for which he is raising money.

'I wouldn't be standing here now if it wasn't for the staff at Headley Court. I feel that I am very lucky so many people I met along the way are more injured than I am.'

. . .

He has already undertaken a series of sporting challenges including rowing the English Channel in just over 15 hours and completing a sky dive.

He said he hoped his efforts would inspire young disabled people to see what sport and activities they could do.

Despite his feat, Major Packer will not be resting on his laurels.

In three weeks' time, he sets off on a rock climbing expedition and he also intends to complete 4,000 pull-ups over a series of days in order to top up his fundraising total.

There's more at the link.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to know what the word 'courage' means, you could do worse than take a good, long, hard look at this man.

Peter