A TEAM of student fundraisers have pledged to raise £85,000 for a mental health charity by holding a fashion show.

Durham University Charity Fashion Show (DUCFS) holds an event annually and last year picked up a national award after raising £75,000 for the International Rescue Committee, which is providing education programmes in Syria.

This year it is hoping to raise even more for mental health charity Mind in a bid to raise the profile among students.

DUCFS president Iona Cameron said: "No one should face a mental health problem alone, and university students especially need support more than ever.

"DUCFS 2018 is committed to changing the stigma and making sure students can access the support they need and are treated with the respect they deserve. We are thrilled to be working with Mind and we hope to harness this unique opportunity to make a change and to raise awareness about the vital importance of emotional wellbeing.”

Karen Bolton, from Mind, said: “We are so grateful to DUCFS for choosing Mind as the charity to benefit from its 2018 show.

"Not only will it help to raise awareness and decrease the stigma which sadly still exists around mental health, but every penny raised will help us to provide vital support and services to the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem every year.”

The group has been given the event of the year award at the National Student Fundraising Awards, which were held in August.

The event is held each February and anyone interested in sponsoring the next show can email sponsorship@ducfs2018.co.uk