Kind-hearted St Andrews do their bit for charity

Generous students at the University of St Andrews have worked hard to raise more than £90,000 so far for charity this academic year.

And the kind-hearted groups of the Students’ Association are on target to raise more than the target of £100,000 by September.

The money for the Association’s Charities Campaign has been raised through a variety of ways from the annual Raising and Giving (RAG) Week, which generated more than £22,000, to a sponsored hitch hike Race2 Barcelona which has gathered more than £36,000 so far with money still coming in.

Their efforts, and those who volunteer in the community, were highlighted at an event, Reach Out St Andrews, in the town last night (Thursday 26 April 2012).

At the event, details of how different groups and societies raised the money and contribute to society through volunteering, were on display to local town leaders, politicians, university and student representatives.

University Principal Professor Louise Richardson made a speech and awards were handed out by the Director of Student Services, Dr Chris Lusk.

St Andrews Students Association president Patrick O’Hare also spoke at the event at Lower College Hall.

The total raised will be distributed to numerous worthwhile causes, with the majority going to the local centres for the following charities: the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland. Part of the total raised will also go to Médecins Sans Frontiéres.

Michael Koudounas, the University of St Andrews Charities Campaign Convenor for 2011-2012 said: “It’s amazing to see students, staff and members of the community come together to recognise and celebrate all the brilliant work undertaken by St Andrews students over the year.

“This funding will have such a great impact both locally and further afield. It’s something we should all be really proud to be a part of.”

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