A FUNDRAISING triathlon organised by a Halesowen church is on track to raise £5,000 to provide clean water to poor families in Africa.

Fifty-four people took part in the Zion Christian Centre event and the money raised will go to the Well Project, part of the Ten Thousand Homes charity which is supported by the church.

Fifteen people completed the full challenge last Saturday – a 17-mile cycle, a 12-length swim at the town’s leisure centre and a three-mile run/walk.

Zion member and organiser Pete Barks said 34 people took part in the swim, 22 completed the cycle ride and the run/walk attracted 24 participants.

A seven-strong team from Halesowen company Aluminium Heat Treatment also took part.

University College Birmingham students gave sports massages in between the disciplines.

Zion’s volunteers’ co-ordinator Jo Gregory said last year’s triathlon attracted around 50 participants and raised more than £6,000 for the charity, so was hopeful this year’s event would be well within the target.

A team of 15 volunteers from the church will fly out to help install a well for villagers in Dwaleni, South Africa, in August,

The charity supports communities in the White River area by assisting them to build their own homes and helping child-headed households, orphaned by Aids and the HIV virus, to care for younger children.