An Orpington man who is only able to move his thumbs and eyes is blinking the 58,000 steps required to summit Mount Everest.

Phil Rossall, who has motor neurone disease, is set to blink the final 300 steps to the world’s 8,848 metre peak this weekend, after 11 weeks of counting for up to two hours a day.

The 67-year-old started his challenge in the front room of his home seven weeks into lockdown to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Phil said: “What challenge would you give to someone upwardly immobile like me?

“Someone who has lost the use of just about all his muscles and can only control his thumbs and eyes.

“Well, hitch-hiking is out of the question and anyway I need my thumbs for writing. That leaves the eyes.

“I think the answer is blinking obvious – I will try to climb to the top of tall buildings and even taller mountains using only the power of my eyelids.

“Nowadays everything is virtual, so why should I not make my challenge doubly virtual. I can no longer do the climbing, so I’m replacing steps with blinks.

“Take my word for it, my ascent will be more arduous than tens of thousands of steps would be for someone able bodied and sane!

“The challenge may take months and progress will be painfully slow – blinking deliberately and counting each blink isn’t easy. But I will make it to the top of Everest.”

Phil was diagnosed with motor neurone disease four years ago and is now in a wheelchair, only able to move his thumbs and eyes.

He relies on a ventilator to breathe and communicates using a switch attached to his iPad.

Motor neurone disease affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord that tell the muscles what to do.

Eventually people with the disease lose the ability to move, eat, talk and ultimately to breathe. There is no cure and no effective treatment.

Last autumn, Phil was pushed around a marathon course – 26.2 miles – by friend and former colleague Marcus Green in a record breaking two hours and 58 minutes. For his latest challenge he’s going solo.

Since his diagnosis, Phil has embarked on a number of fundraising challenges for the Motor Neurone Disease Association with his ‘Blinking Everest’ challenge taking the total to more than £30,000.

He has also written a book titled "Motor Neurone Disease the fun bits" to support others affected by the disease.