What a bright pair mother and daughter Vanessa and Sophie Harries proved to be as they battled to raise money and awareness for a local LGBTQ charity in Dudley borough.

Bright colours were the order of the day when they organised a Walk/Run for the What? Centre, which has bases in Stourbridge and Dudley.

Now Vanessa, 46, and Sophie, 21, from Pensnett, hope the walk will become an annual event.

The pair also ran two fundraiser raffles and set up a fundraising page to collect money.

The What? Centre is a charity that works with young people aged 9-25 who might have suffered from bereavement, abuse, mental illness, bullying, and so forth and provides group workshops, counselling and other LGBTQ+ and BAME specific guidance to those in need. Vanessa said: “The Centre is providing amazing facilities to young LGBTQ+ people in the community and deserves so much praise and attention for that.

“Unfortunately it has become clear that there is still a stigma attached to raising money for, and supporting, LGBTQ+ people, but in my eyes that makes it all the more important that we raise money and awareness for the cause and hopefully educate people in the process.” The raffles they ran were supported by a number of small businesses providing auction items, @vintagesummercreations, @eeekijewellery, @walkingwildco and @tinytrinketstudio.

The pair raised £218 and their initiative also encouraged 25 people (one in Ontario, Canada) to complete a run (or more) in aid of the cause.

Vanessa completed a half marathon on Sunday, November 15, to finish the whole thing off!