A DUDLEY councillor’s charity has raised over £3,000 for The Leukaemia Fund, despite a delay to fundraising due to Covid.

Councillor Shaz Saleem for Kingswinford North and Wall Heath founded The Saleem Foundation in 2019 and has since supported the Black Country Food Bank.

The charity raises awareness for mental health and domestic abuse.

Earlier this year, Cllr Saleem and Cllr Steve Waltho led the Bert Bissell Memorial society on the annual walk to Ben Nevis. The money raised was split with half going to The Leukaemia Fund and the other going to the mayor’s chosen charities.

Another team led by the Cllr Saleem took part in a 15,000ft sky dive where the team raised over £2500 with Sue Paddock raising £1400.

The Saleem Foundation presented a cheque of £3,316 at the mayor’s parlour.

Cllr Saleem said: "The success of my Foundation in honour of my grandad who spent his life serving others has already surpassed expectations.

“We will always do our part to support other causes, and the work the Leukaemia funds does is amazing, we are all thrilled to have been able to raise such a great total for them, the experience of sky diving whilst the sun set will live with us forever.”

Cllr Waltho said: “I’m so proud of these amazing individuals, we had a strong 30-person team climb Ben Nevis and 10 brave individuals took part in a sky dive, both very challenging experiences for an important cause. we raised some much-needed funds for the Georgina Unit at Russell Hall who do some amazing work.”