A RECORD-breaking total of £235,313 has been donated to multiple charities by The University of Southampton Students' Union (SUSU).

This marks the largest amount that the student support team has ever given to charities since the university opened, and was achieved as a result of hard-earned challenges faced through student fundraising and SUSU’s Raise and Give (RAG) Group.

Over 35 charities were benefitted by the funds raised, with just some of those charities including Help Refugees, blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, domestic and sexual abuse charity Yellow Door and Trinity Winchester - who were voted for by students as core charities ahead of the 2018-2019 academic year.

Members of the union raised the money by taking part in several challenges, with one of them being Jailbreak, where students attempted to travel to a destination as far as possible without any money, along with a sponsored event where a university society President was thrown gunge over.

They also went head-to-head with a 24-hour cycle for men's health charity Movember as well as thigh-burning mountain treks, bake sales, quiz nights, and 10k runs.

SUSU’s Vice President of Activities Fiona Sunderland says: “I’m absolutely amazed by the record-breaking total raised this year.

"A massive congratulations to all those involved and thank you to everyone in RAG for your tireless efforts, it has really paid off. I look forward to working with you this year and supporting your amazing work.”

As voted for by University of Southampton students, SUSU’s core charities for 2019-20 will be Medicine Sans Frontiers, Alzheimer’s Society, Solent Mind and Naomi House & Jacksplace.