News

Record donations from massive student charity effort

(20 June 2005)

Student fund-raisers at Durham University have presented cheques to more than 200 representatives of charities and community projects as part of a record total of more than £190,000.

The donations were raised by students through the activities of DUCK (Durham University Charities Committee). In a mixture of sponsored feats and imaginative collecting all around the country.

DUCK organisers have also announced that writer Bill Bryson, Durham University’s new Chancellor, has accepted the students’ invitation to be a patron of DUCK, along with cricketer Ian Botham and the Bishop of Durham.

DUCK Officer Rachel Taylor said: “Our celebration evening is a chance for students and other supporters to learn more about the charities, activities and projects that benefit from the funds we raise. It also gives the representatives from those organisations the opportunity to meet some of the students involved.

“We are very grateful to Bill Bryson for agreeing to be associated with DUCK as a patron. His support in this way will be an extra boost to everyone.”

In a message, the Chancellor said he was honoured to be a patron of DUCK but sorry he was unable to attend the celebration evening. He thanked the students and said he hoped to meet them soon. “

At the presentation event at Durham Castle, the Mayor of Durham City John Lightley, thanked the students on behalf of the recipients and praised them for their “fantastic effort”.

Vice-Chancellor, Sir Kenneth Calman, who also addressed the students, supporters, and recipients at the presentation event, said: “I am constantly impressed year after year as the students increase the amount raised through DUCK. This reflects the generosity not only of the people here and around the country who make the donations, but also of the students themselves who give a great deal of time – as well as some of their money – to so many good causes. They show huge amounts of resourcefulness, energy and community spirit.”

DUCK is now the third most successful university group for charity support in the UK. Some of the money raised goes to major charities with national or international programmes, but a large proportion is donated in and around the city of Durham and Stockton-on-Tees, where the students live in or near the University’s two campuses. Among the latest donations are: Victim Support County Durham - £1,000 Save the Children Fund - £28,542 Barnardo’s - £7,448 St Cuthbert’s Hospice - £1,500 Durham Young People Centre (Endhouse) - £1,000 Cancer Research UK - £ 6,980

Many more charities include small local groups such as pensioners’ dining circles, scout and guide groups, illness support groups and playgroups, a number of whom rely on DUCK for their very existence.

For further information please contact:

DUCK Officer
Rachel Taylor 0191 334 1797
http://www.duck.dsu.org.uk

Media contact: Keith Seacroft, Head of PR, 0191 334 6074