Burton young professional takes part in fundraising challenge

A Future Faces member who is situated in Burton recently took part in the YMCA ACTIVEly challenge, to raise funds for YMCA Burton.

YMCA Burton is a charity committed to providing a supportive and safe environment for those who are homeless in East Staffordshire across their three housing sites. They support over 12,000 local people each year through their core and vital services (supported housing, emergency foodbank, family mediation service, counselling, outreach and furniture shops).

Sophie Allen, designer and marketing specialist at Serrano Media, took part in the challenge to help raise funds and awareness for the charity. The challenge involved walking/running 50 miles throughout June, where Sophie raised £200 through her JustGiving page.

As well as the £200 raised, food and toiletry donations were purchased to help towards the YMCA Burton foodbank, as there is currently a shortage of donations and increasingly high demand for food parcels.

Sophie said: “I went into this challenge knowing I wanted to help raise money for YMCA Burton, to help the local community and raise awareness as to just how much the YMCA does... I didn't realise how much I was going to learn along the way."

"It's been an incredible experience that's not only helped support a fantastic charity but to encourage mental wellbeing, physical health and create memories along the way. Isabelle was incredibly supportive and encouraging throughout the ACTIVEly challenge; we even went on a four and a half mile walk together where we quickly learned we can both talk until the cows come home."

Isabelle Winter, fundraising officer at YMCA Burton, gave Sophie a tour of the YMCA. She said: “It was a pleasure to show Sophie around the heart of the charity’s services. She has been a brilliant ambassador of our work at YMCA Burton, particularly when she took part in our ACTIVElyYMCA 50-mile challenge throughout June. There is significant high demand across all of our services for supported housing, our emergency foodbank, family mediation service, counselling and furniture enterprise.

“We are truly grateful for Sophie’s keenness and passion in fundraising for YMCA Burton, as well as collecting vital food donations for our emergency foodbank. We look forward to continuing to build this relationship through the Future Faces network.”

YMCA Burton’s biggest annual fundraising event, Sleepout, has been released and it will be taking place on Friday 25 October.

One night truly can make a lifetime of difference. If anyone is interested in finding out more and registering to take part, please get in touch with Isabelle and the fundraising team via fundraising@burtonymca.org.

Pictured (L-R): Sophie Allen and Isabelle Winter