Barnardo’s fundraising manager, centre, with students at UCLan
Hiking, cycling and seeing how far they could get from Preston without a penny to their name is how a group of UCLan students have raised thousands for charity.
More than £5,000 is to be given to Barnardo’s by the events management students.
Events put on include a Chinese cultural evening, masquerade ball and there’s also been some feats of endurance.
Students did a 100km cycle ride, a 20 mile hike and two students ‘escaped’ Preston to hitch hike into Europe and see how far they could get.
Barnardo’s regional fundraising manager Jane Harries said: “The hard work, commitment and enthusiasm from the staff and students at UCLan has been amazing and we are staggered by the amount that has been raised. A huge thank you to everyone involved, these funds will make a huge difference to the vulnerable children and families that we support across Lancashire.”
It is the eight year students studying events management have been set the challenge by their course leader Rod Train.
He said: “Each year the students never fail to impress me with their innovative ideas to raise money for such an important charity. Not only do they benefit from getting hands-on experience by putting what they’ve learned into practise, but they also help the local community by working so closely with Barnardo’s.”
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A total of £26,000 has now been raised since the charity challenges began for Barnardo’s.
Lisa Ingham, a 33-year-old student who helped to organise a series of fitness challenges, said: “The activities were challenging and tested our fitness and stamina, but was also very rewarding. It is a great sense of achievement knowing that the work and time we have put into our event has resulted in raising such an overwhelming amount of money which go towards funding much needed services for children and young people to benefit from in our local area.”