STUDENTS from the University of York have raised more than £81,000 for charity in the last 12 months.

The students’ union Raising And Giving (RAG) Committee raised a total of £81,129.84 through its fundraising events throughout 2011 and 2012, more than double the organisation’s previous record.

The funds will go towards charities including Childreach International, War Child, The Alzheimer’s Society, Teenage Cancer Trust and, locally, Martin House Hospice and Refugee Action York.

Some of the funds also support YUSU’s own volunteering projects in the local York community, which include Minds in Motion, a charity which works with local people with dementia, and Kids’ Camp, which takes children who desperately need a break away for an adventure week during the school holidays.

RAG officers Erin Cork, a third year student at the university, said: “Last year’s committee should be really proud of this fantastic figure, as it does justice to the amount of hard work and dedication that went into RAG for 2011-12. I’d like to thank everyone who supported all of the huge range of fundraising efforts.”