A group of friends have raised a further £7,000 to help pay for a Whitehaven man’s treatment after he was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) last year.

The friends took part in a 48 hour running challenge where groups of them would run four miles every four hours over the course of two days.

One of the participants, Alex Hodgeson, told The Herdwick News: “We couldn’t of done it without the support from all the business, local sports clubs and all the people who joined us on the runs.

“All in all it was a great success in raising funds for Sheldon.”

Sheldon Morfoot was recently diagnosed with MS – a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system which can lead to a range of different life changing symptoms – an condition that Sheldon’s mum sadly passed away from, back in 2015.

Although this condition cannot be cured it can be treated and managed, which is what Sheldon’s friend’s are trying to help with.

There is a specialised treatment called Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) available in Mexico, which is an intense chemotherapy over a period of 28 days.

Last year the friends had rallied together and managed to raise over £20,000 to go towards the £50,000 treatment.

Thanks to the new fundraising challenge the group have raised a further £7,742.

Another member of running group, Matthew Pilkington, said: “Back in October, myself and Alex Hodgson set a target of £2500, in my eyes anywhere close to that was a success, but WOW! that target was well and truly smashed.”