Staff and students at Furness College have been celebrating after raising £5116.73 for St. Mary’s Hospice.

The astonishing amount has been raised as part of the College’s commitment to the St. Mary’s Hospice Club 25 Scheme which invited businesses from across South Cumbria to take part in interesting and fun team activities and events over the course of the year to raise £1,000 for the Hospice.

The enthusiasm of the staff and students meant the initial expected £1,000 was quickly beaten. Activities used to support the charity over the year has seen the Expandable bike group cycling from Furness College to Holy Island, Northumberland, Christmas Fair, sports challenges where students exercised 1000 miles replicating the journey from Lands End to John O' Groats, teams of staff and students for the Keswick to Barrow Walk, coffee mornings, sales of homemade jam and allotment produce.

Anne Attwood, Principal said, “Furness College staff and students have always entered enthusiastically into activities which support local charities. We are very proud of the amount raised and thank everyone in the college for their support.”

The college will continue to support the charity with a range of other exciting activities including a Christmas Fair for college staff and students which will include inter staff 5 a side football matches, a santa dash run, a college choir and lots of stalls.