Coleraine welcome for BRIT walk Phil

And Phil took the opportunity to invite schools, colleges and universities to register for the “BRIT 2012 Challenge” as a team.

Phil took on the challenge to raise awareness of the British Inspiration Trust, a charity he founded to help young people facing adversity to regain self-worth, self-belief and self-confidence.

He also hopes to raise £15 million this year to fund the building of a BRIT Centre of Inspiration that will bring young people nominated by BRIT’s 50 current charity partners under one roof to help reshape their lives; Phil is doing the marathon walk after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in 2008 and having been told he was unlikely to walk again - for him walking 8-10 miles is the equivalent of over a marathon for a person without a spinal cord injury.

Co Londonderry is the first location visited by Phil Packer in Northern Ireland. He will also visit counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Down, Armagh, County Antrim as part of his 60 mile walk across Northern Ireland on 23-28 February, bringing Phil’s remaining mile balance down to 1,726.

Phil is making his way through locations chosen by young people in every county of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, including Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, finishing in London in mid-December.

On the way, he is meeting young people who are facing physical and mental adversity, from community groups and charities, as well as youth from schools, colleges and universities who are joining Phil at specific host location where he walks.

Phil Packer said: “This is about providing a physical legacy for our young people who face their darkest times and in a very special year including Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee Year and London 2012, I hope that 2,012 businesses will show their support of our young people who face adversity by creating a Centre of Inspiration together.

“I also hope to involve young people throughout the year and encourage teams to help charities within their communities.”