Walkers lace up to support Wolverhampton charity The Haven - PICTURES
Taking it one step at a time - one Black Country charity is doing a seven-figure challenge to raise awareness of domestic violence.
The Haven, a Wolverhampton based charity, helps women and children who are suffering from abuse and during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the charity is employing the help of the community to walk one million steps to raise awareness.
The 'One Million Steps for The Haven' event took place on October 13 and saw 80 people walk 5k from Molineux to West Park, taking a detour through the city centre on the way.
The group totalled 425,000 steps on the journey.
Senior Community Fundraiser at The Haven, Jade Secker, said: "As its Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, it's important for people to know they cannot combat domestic violence alone, the community support is so important.
"We almost got halfway to our one million steps target and we're really grateful to the Wolves Foundation, Signal 107 and ABC cars for sponsoring us.
"The people turned out, despite the weather, the rain held off in the end and we had a lovely autumnal walk.
"We haven't counted our total money raised yet but whatever it is, it'll help - it was also about raising awareness.
"We're encouraging people and businesses to get involved and do fundraiser activities and we can add their steps to our tally and help us reach the target.
"Events like this are incredibly important, there are so many women who don't know we exist and that we're here to help.
"If we can help reach out to even one woman who needs us, then the walk has done its job.
"It's a platform to help women suffering from domestic violence, it's still such a taboo subject and hosting events like these will help us break down that stigma and help people come forward."
Making up part of the group were a dance troupe from Sedgley-based group, Kennedy's School of Dance.
The school teachers aspiring dancers from age 2 - 54 in ballet, tap, acrobatic, modern and musical interpretation.
Twenty dancers aged 12 - 22 performed a acrobatic-modern style dance outside Molineux before taking to the streets as part of the walkers.
Founder of the group, Kennedy Glews, said: "The Haven are a charity close to my heart, helping friends and family in the past, so it was great to help them.
"We raised over £900 for The Haven and presented it to them at our show in June and from then Jade asked us to come along to the walk.
"It was something else, a fantastic opportunity, the kids loved it and the walk itself was great, we spoke to some people with interesting stories and it was very humbling.
"The work The Haven do is ridiculously important, they're an asset to the city, and we need more people like Jade helping people the way she does."
