AN Abergavenny hiker who led a team of 25 walkers through the South Wales Three Peaks Challenge helped raise almost £4,000 for MS Society Cymru.

Charles Thomas, 51, took the lead in the 20 mile walk over Blorenge, Sugar Loaf, and Skirrid at the end of last month after finding out one of the staff members at his local bank had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Mr Thomas, an experienced walker who has raised thousands of pounds for charity with previous hikes, was setting up a bank account for his fundraising in the Abergavenny branch of HSBC when business specialist Kath Williams told him of her diagnoses two years ago.

Miss Williams, 39, was diagnosed with the condition which affects the central nervous system in February 2008 and is currently involved in drug treatment trials at the University Hospice of Wales in Cardiff, as well as receiving regular support from a dedicated MS nurse.

Mr Thomas completed the walk with a group of 25 fellow walkers, including a group from Cardiff organised by MS Society Cymru fundraising manager Iestyn Evans, who had never completed a walk like this before.

“Talking to some of them the next day, I think a lot of them suffered!” said Mr Thomas. “But everyone put so much effort in and raised a really good sum of money.”

Miss Williams said: “Without this sort of fundraising, there would be no support for MS patients like specialist councillors, dedicated nurses and difference activity groups. It’s a lot of money which will help a lot of people.”