Phil Packer to Walk the Virgin London Marathon in 26 Hours for 26 Charities

LONDON, March 2, 2010 - Phil Packer, who suffered severe spinal cord injuries in 2008 and has
raised over GBP1.3million for charity by rowing the English Channel, walking
the London Marathon over 14 days and hauling himself up El Capitan (over 4250
pull ups in 3 days) all within a six month period last year, will attempt to
walk this year's Virgin London Marathon in 26 hours for 26 charities.

At 1000 hrs on Sunday 25th April, Phil will start the Virgin London
Marathon and finish 26 hours later at 1200 hrs on Monday 26th April. To
continue his intent and aim to inspire young people with disability, deprived
young people and to support injured service personnel, he will walk each mile
with a Support Walker between the ages of 16 and 25 who will be nominated by
each charity and all whom will have received direct support from their
charity. Phil has continued to enthuse and motivate millions and last year
received the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Awards and the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year.

Phil says:

"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. The outpouring of public
support, whilst serving to highlight the need to support our injured, only
scratches the surface of the wider support needed to assist those that endure
huge physical and mental challenges within our Country every day. My intent
is to ask Young People with Disabilities to join me in supporting my future
plan to build the British Inspiration Trust, and for their charities and
support groups to partner with me.

To fully understand exactly what young people need, I asked for
representatives from 26 charities to join me as my official support walker as
I complete the 2010 Virgin London Marathon in 26 hours. My partnering
charities, all of which support young people with disabilities, young
deprived people or injured service personnel, will also be invited to assist
me with their knowledge in running the Centre.

The aim is for all the charities to use my 26 hour Marathon opportunity
to raise awareness and funds over 26 days, beginning the 1st of April and
ending the 26th of April. They have all agreed that this 26 day fundraising
period will be their Main Effort for April. The last 365 yards of the Virgin
London Marathon will see all 26 young people from the charities joining me as
we cross the finish line together.

There is a clear need to provide inspiration and hope to young people. On
completion of the Marathon, I am concentrating my efforts on building a
multi-million pound, eco-friendly British Centre of Excellence. The Centre,
dynamic and unique, will be a conduit to enthuse and inspire Young People
with Disabilities, including our injured service personnel, between the ages
of 16 and 25. The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) will serve not only as a
hub of British inspiration, but will provide a legacy for generations of
young people. I will build it by 2012. With increasing support from Young
People and Young People with disabilities joining me in my Quest, my intent
is to gain the support of Government, Businesses through their Corporate
Social Responsibility strategies and the public to assist me in delivering a
British "Beacon of Inspiration" to improve Quality of Life. I will launch
BRIT later this year with the support of the National Media.

"26"; a unique Virgin London Marathon opportunity, is Phil's next
challenge and the start of the pathway towards building BRIT. For more
information on Phil's remarkable challenge, go to www.philpacker.com

    Key dates:

    1st - 26th April    -    Fundraising by all of the 26 Charities
    1000 hrs 25 thApril -    Phil's Virgin London Marathon starts
    1200 hrs 26thApril  -    Phil's Virgin London Marathon finishes

Press & Media Enquiries for Charities: Action for Children: Alex Eeeles, +44(0)207-704-7860; Arthritis Research UK: Jane Tadman, +44(0)1246-541-107; Back Up Trust: Indira Das-Gupta, +44(0)208-8756744; Calvert Trust: Sarah Wilson, +44(0)7831-558-752; Cardiac Risk in the Young: Jo Hudson, +44(0)7958-252-081; Children's Trust: Ruth Allsopp, +44(0)1737-814-159; Douglas Bader Foundation: Keith Delderfield, +44(0)7831-596-015; Disabilities Trust: Chris Gaskell, +44(0)1444-237-294; Epilepsy Action: Aimee Gee, +44(0)1132-108-800; Great Ormond Street Hospital: Lottie Wilkins, +44(0)207-239-3038; Helen Rollason Charity: Melissa Matthews, +44(0)1245-514-700; Leonard Cheshire Disability: Laura Emmerson, +44(0)2032-420-389; MENCAP: Kathryn Cox, +44(0)207-696-6937; Muscular Dystrophy: Dominique Vincent, +44(0)207-803-4844; National Autistic Society: Alice Ridley, +44(0)207-923-5769; National Deaf Children's Society: Aine Standen, +44(0)207-014-1146, Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation: Anna Murphy, +44(0)1933-664-437; NSPCC: Sherylin Thompson, +44(0)207-825-2739; Prince's Trust: Annabel Kirk, +44(0)207-543-1220; Riding for the Disabled: Ed Bracher, +44(0)1926-405-961; Royal British Legion: Robert Lee, +44(0)7798-654-071; Royal National Institute for the Blind: Stacey Kerr, +44(0)207-391-2290; Sailability: Morna Hughes, +44(0)2380-604-249; SCOPE: Amisha Koria, +44(0)7843-467-948; SSAFA: Lucy Walters, +44(0)207-463-9258; Whizz Kidz: Rob Dyson, +44(0)207-798-6103. For all Phil's Virgin London Marathon Media Enquiries, please contact: Sally Arnold, Ketchum Pleon, 34 - 41 Folgate Street, LONDON. E1 6BX, T: +44(0)207-611-3500, Direct: +44(0)207-611-3545, E: sally.Arnold at KetchumPleon.com; For all other Media and Management Enquiries relating to Phil, please contact: Richard W. Thompson, Chairman, Merlin Elite Limited, Hammersmith Studios, 55 Yeldham Road, LONDON, W6 8JF, T: +44-208-834-8900, F: +44-208-834-8901, E : Richard.Thompson at merlinelite.co.uk.