Exeter College raises a record breaking £13,470.71 in support of Teenage Cancer Trust – the most ever raised by a college for the charity in the South West.

Over the past year, students and staff have come together to raise funds for the college’s Charity of the Year Teenage Cancer Trust – the only UK charity supporting 13-24 year olds with cancer through their specialist nursing staff and units. In March 2014 Teenage Cancer Trust raised £2.5million to open the first specialist Teenage Cancer Trust unit in the South West for local young people from across the region with cancer.

Students and staff at the college have raised funds for the charity through a year of creative and inspiring fundraising, from cakes sales, to sporting events, a sponsored Jailbreak, Carol concert, sponsored abseil, to a battle of the bands contest.

Exeter College Student Representative Committee recently presented a cheque to Melissa Kent, Regional Fundraiser at the Teenage Cancer Trust.

This is the highest ever raised for the college’s Charity of the Year, and, according to the Teenage Cancer Trust, is the most ever raised by a FE college across the South West.

In addition to supporting Teenage Cancer Trust, the local charity Force Cancer Support will also receive £1,370.63. This brings the overall fundraising total to £14,841.34.

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal, said: “As a college we invest a lot of time, energy and resource into developing the whole person, as a result Ofsted visited the college during the last year to look at our approach to social responsibility.

“The fact that the Student Representative Committee have raised a staggering amount is a real testament to the culture here at Exeter College, students, staff and stakeholder have all joined forces to raise a record amount for the nominated college charity.”

“The students choose the college charity each year and the Teenage Cancer Trust really resonated with the college community, the target for the year, set by the students was £6,000 – so I did start to wonder where the figure might end up as we passed £10,000! This fundraising feat, for me, demonstrates the qualities of young people that I see every day and I am delighted that this year's fund raising has been so successful.”

Megan Snell, Deputy Head of Student Experience at Exeter College, said: “It has been a remarkable year of fundraising by our students and staff who have come together to support our Charity of the Year Teenage Cancer Trust.

“We are delighted to be able to support Teenage Cancer Trust and it has been a privilege to see the remarkable and inspiring fundraising that has taken place. Students are able to use the experiences they have in fundraising as part of the enrichment we offer at the college – thank you to everyone who has been part of this exceptional year of fundraising.”

Melissa Kent, Regional Fundraiser from the Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “It has been a remarkable year for the college’s fundraising. I have had the absolute pleasure of visiting the college on three occasions, each time I have met many driven and determined students, it demonstrates the brilliance of the college. Thank you too all the individuals that made the incredible figure possible, we are truly delighted.”

The College has already voted to support Devon Air Ambulance Trust as its Charity of the Year for 2016-17.