Now marathon major sets his sights higher

The disabled army major who took two weeks to complete the 26-mile marathon circuit will take less than two days off before beginning training for his next charity challenge.

Phil Packer, who lost the use of both legs after being badly injured in a bomb blast in Basra, will scale a building in London tommorow(TUES), the first day of preparation before an attempt to climb a 3,000 ft vertical rock face.

The 36-year-old paraplegic has about three weeks of intensive training to complete before setting off for the El Capitan in America's Yosemite National Park.

Hundreds turned out to cheer Major Packer across the marathon finishing line in St James's Park - he completed two miles a day - on Saturday including member of his family and five-time Olympic gold medal rower Sir Steve Redgrave.

Major Packer stayed to thank many of those who were there, in a day he called "overwhelming".

But the elation of completing the latest in a series of gruelling trials aimed at raising £1 million for soldiers' charity Help for Heroes had barely dissipated before preparations were being made for the climb.

Soon after dinner with his parents and sister, plans were being put in place for the ascent of a rock formation that was once considered impossible for anyone to complete.

Major Packer, who was £375,000 short of his charity target, told the Standard: "I now have to concentrate of my upper body strength and getting in shape quickly.

"It would be fantastic to be able to do the climb, get the remainder of the money and complete the challenge. There are so many more things to do."

Andy Kirkpatrick, one of Britain's foremost climbers, will prepare Major Packer for the climb and accompany him up the granite monolith.

On their return to Britain, Major Packer begins a new job with the army on 1 July.

He will also take up an ambassadorial role with the Prince's Trust, the charity founded by the Prince of Wales to help disadvantaged young people.

But he also intends to continue working to help disabled children.

"This has been a truly life-changing experience for me," he added. "I am 36, I have the Ministry of Defence family and my own family and friends around me.

"Some people don't have that, that is when you need people to encourage you. For young people disability can be a very devastating thing to happen to them and I want to show that there are lots of opportunities out there."