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Maidstone walker with Multiple Sclerosis takes on his 10th 10km walk in four months

A keen walker is proving you don't need to be able-bodied to keep active.

Paul Jenkins is set to take on a 10km hike around Maidstone today, despite living with Multiple Sclerosis it will be his 10th inside four months.

Paul Jenkins will be completing his 10th 10km walk in four months next week, despite living with MS. Picture: Andy Payton
Paul Jenkins will be completing his 10th 10km walk in four months next week, despite living with MS. Picture: Andy Payton

The 47-year-old lives with Multiple Sclerosis and post traumatic stress disorder following a car crash when he was 19.

As a result of his MS, Mr Jenkins has almost constant pins and needles and numbness in his limbs. Another symptom is fatigue and difficulty walking.

But it hasn't slowed him down.

Mr Jenkins, who works at the contact centre at Kent County Council, said: "I just want to be out there showing people that having a less ability doesn’t stop you having dreams and making them happen, if I can save one person’s outlook in their life, I’ve done my job.

"The way I see it, walking gives me something to focus on and it can be the same for other people. I could sit at home feeling sorry for myself or I could get out there and do something."

Paul has walked dozens of half marathons and 10km hikes in recent years, but this year he set a new challenge - to complete 10km hikes 10 times before the end of the year.

It will help him towards his target of 23 walks this year.

This morning he set off from County Hall for a walk around Maidstone dressed as Father Christmas.

He's hoping others will join him on his last walk of 2019.

Paul said: "I'm feeling a bit nervous, hopefully the weather stays dry.

"I was trying to work out a route and I decided that Maidstone was what's important to me, I'll be heading up towards Aylesford but I hope the walk can inspire people on the way.

"If people see Father Christmas walking around the streets of Maidstone they're going to wonder what's going on.

"Not every child's going to believe I'm Father Christmas, but if they see me walking they might think he recruits people with a disability, that helps normalise it for others."

Paul is hoping to raise £1,600 from his last walk of the year. The money will go towards the Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre.

Cornwallis Academy and Mid Kent College are both holding bake sales to raise money for Paul's cause.

To donate, visit tinyurl.com/pauljenkinskm.

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