The chamber raised a total of £5,151 for the YMCA Black Country Group through a series of fundraising events over the past 12 months – including £1,376 raised by chief executive Sarah Moorhouse who took part in the Three Peaks Challenge.

The money will all go to the YMCA’s Brighter Futures Fund to help the organisation continue its work supporting young people and their families across the Black Country.

Sarah said the entire chamber team had played its part throughout the year to help raise the cash.

“We have staged a series of events to raise funds, including through our women in leadership programme, annual business awards, a Step into September campaign and my Three Peaks Challenge.

“The Step into September initiative saw colleagues beat all their own targets to complete more than 1.5million steps through walks around the country and close to home.

“This May I took on the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in just 24 hours to add to the funds. It was fabulous – if exhausting fun – and I loved every minute of it.

“It has been a huge honour to support the YMCA and the Brighter Futures Fund throughout the year and know that every penny we have raised will help young people in our region have a better future.

“The fund is designed to ignite a transformative journey where the dreams of young people are cultivated and their potential is unleashed, and I can think of no better cause for us to have championed.”

Steve Bavington CEO of YMCA Black Country said: “We’re so grateful to have been chosen as the Chamber’s Charity of the Year last year and have built great links with the team and members. The support received through their fundraising has blown us away, their contribution will have a direct impact, by supporting young people in the region to access fun, safe activities where they can be themselves.

“We believe everyone should have the chance to discover who they are and what they can become; thanks to Sarah and the Chamber’s support, young people in the Black Country will have more opportunities to do just that.”

This year, the Chamber are supporting Beacon Centre for the Blind as their Charity of the Year. Beacon are proudly celebrating their 150th year and offer support to the 37,000 people in the Black Country living with sight loss. The Chamber plans to raise money through fundraising at events and a quiz.

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce is the leading business support organisation in the region, and is made up of a network of local businesses helping to shape and power the economy.

For more information visit https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/