A PASSIONATE hiker from Okehampton who has multiple sclerosis (MS) has raised more than £2,500 for the MS Society along with a team of friends.

They took on the challenge of hiking five Lakeland peaks in five hours back in the summer and have just completed their fundraising.

Phil Sorrell, aged 38, took to the fells near Keswick on June 27 with a group of friends, collectively known as ‘Team Social Hiking’. Although some of the team did the full ten peak route, Phil and seven friends chose the lighter five peak option — known as the Five in Five — to make sure they all got round.

Phil, who is a web developer, said: ‘It was actually five peaks in six hours because we were so busy enjoying the views. It was such a nice day, taking photographs, being sociable, the target was there to be ignored!

‘It’s the second time the team has done the Five in Five, it is an absolutely fabulous event, brilliantly organised, everything is sorted, the marshals are helpful, friendly and supportive.’

Phil was diagnosed with MS in 2010 and has relapsing and remitting MS, which has affected his fine motor skills.

Since diagnosis, Phil has had four relapses and each one leaves a residual symptom, such as numbness in his feet. Phil has to have a tri-weekly injection which reduces the relapses and their severity, slowing the progression of his MS.

More than 100,000 people in the UK are living with MS.

Most people are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. MS is unpredictable — one day you can be fine, the next you might lose your sight or be unable to move.

The MS Society is funding research and fighting for better treatment and care to help people with MS take back control.

Plans are already underway for 2016, when Phil hopes to return with the team to again challenge himself to beat MS.

You can sponsor Phil and the Social Hiking Team at www.justgiving.com/daylightgambler-2015/

For more information about the MS Society go to www.mssociety.org.uk