BORDERS ramblers, cadets and Scouts have taken part in a national walk to help raise £15million for young people.
They hiked five miles near Peebles with former soldier Phil Packer MBE.
In 2008 after sustaining a spine injury he was informed that he was unlikely to walk again.
But he fought back and the following year rowed the English Channel, walked the London Marathon over 14 days on crutches, and hauled himself up El Capitan, the challenging climb in Yosemite in California.
It was the equivalent of 4,250 pull-ups in three days – and raised £1.3million for wounded military personnel.
As a result, he received the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of Year Award and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award.
The following year, Phil climbed the Three Peaks during 72 hours for Sport Relief, before completing another London Marathon in 26 hours for 26 charities.
He received the MBE (military) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to the armed forces. He retired the same year.
This is his biggest challenge he says, walking 2,012 miles across Britain during 2012 to raise £15million to build a centre of young people facing adversity.
The founder of the British Inspiration Trust was joined by a group of 16 to walk five miles round Venlaw for the Peeblesshire leg of his 2012 extremely testing challenge.
The group included the Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale, Captain David Younger and members of the Tweeddale Ramblers and local Army Cadet Force members and Scouts who gave the inspirational fundraiser three cheers at the end of the walk.
Later, it was Borders College’s turn to welcome Phil to its campus in Galashiels.
During his visit, he delivered a motivational lecture to staff and students as well as continuing on his 2,012-mile challenge.
Students joined Phil to walk around the campus reducing the total distance required by six more miles.