A former army major paralysed by a rocket attack in 2008 came to Oxford as part of his 2,012-mile walk around Britain.

Phil Packer was told it was “highly unlikely” he would walk again after the attack on his military base in Basra, Iraq, left him with a severe spinal cord injury.

But he has fought his way back – walking the London Marathon on crutches, climbed El Capitan in California and rowed the English Channel – raising £1m for forces charity Help For Heroes.

He now hopes to raise £15m to build a centre to inspire young people facing adversity and was in Oxford on Saturday to raise awareness on his near year-long walk.

After meeting disabled people at University Parks, he walked around the Iffley Road running track, where Roger Bannister ran the first sub four-minute mile.

Maj Packer, from London, said: “Going through the traumatic experience in 2008 and then learning about how young people face adversity led me to lead a life supporting young people.

“I have the opportunity to support our young people in need and I’ll do everything I can to give them a better standard of living.

“It drives me forward. This is the life I live now.”

Mr Packer has spent the last year building partnerships with 54 charities, and each begged him to raise funds for the young people’s centre.

The centre will aim to give young people self-confidence by bringing inspirational characters in to run sessions.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Richard Branson, Sally Gunnell and Jamie Oliver have already backed the scheme.

The centre will not be funded with money from the public, and instead Mr Packer hopes to get 2,012 businesses to pledge between £5,000 and £10,000.

He began the 2,012 mile walk on January 24 and hopes to complete it by mid-December.

He walked eight miles of the distance in Oxford over the weekend.

He said: “My spinal rehabilitation consultant said the distance I am doing, with the injuries I have sustained, equate to three to four times the mileage.

“It equates in effect to doing a marathon a day and I have got to sustain that for thee hundred and something days. Some days are very, very painful.

He walks with a hand-made staff that keeps his back – which is partly held together by a cage – upright. The staff features badges from the charities he supports.

On Saturday he was joined by BBC newsreader Kate Silverton, who walked three of the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales with him in 2010.

She said: “I do everything I can to support Phil. It is a hugely important cause he is raising awareness about for and he is extraordinary.”

Oxford University RFC captain John Carter presented Mr Packer with a club shirt, shorts and bag at the event.

Mr Carter said: “We are here to support what Phil is doing and to find out more from him personally.

“You do not get these opportunities to meet such inspirational people very often, and Phil is certainly an inspirational person.”

For information about Phil Packer, visit brit2012 challenge.org.uk or follow him on Twitter @PhilPacker