A UNIVERSITY fashion show has raised more than £100,000 for a mental health charity.

The Durham University Charity Fashion Show (DUCFS), which takes place annually, was held this year in aid of Mind and initially set a target of raising £85,000.

The event, which has been running for 35 years, took place at Rainton Meadows Arena involved 52 models, 24 brands, 32 sponsors and 200 outfits. It took place on February 2 and 3 and has raised a total of £106,000.

Iona Cameron, fashion show president said: “It’s a powerful wake-up call that mental health is an issue taken seriously at universities in the UK. The support we’ve received from students demonstrates how important the issue is. I am completely overwhelmed and speechless with the success of DUCFS 2018. We have broken boundaries and have achieved something that many wouldn’t achieve in a lifetime. It has been an incredible journey bringing the show together over the last ten months thanks to the outstanding hard work from the 2018 executive committee who helped bring the show to life.”

Karen Bolton, head of community fundraising at Mind, said: “We are so grateful to DUCFS for choosing Mind and congratulations on smashing the original target and raising more than £106,000.

“This incredible amount will not only will help to raise awareness and decrease the stigma which sadly still exists around mental health, but every penny raised helps provide vital support and services.