The DCU Raising and Giving (RAG) Society raised over €1,000 following the “Underwear Mile” charity fundraiser last Wednesday afternoon. Participants braved the elements and stripped down to their bare essentials in aid of various Irish charities.
Underwear hung from a make shift clothes line across the Helix as 60 students took part in the event which encompassed the campus grounds.
In order to partake in the fun run, participants had to raise at least €10 and a prize of a free gym membership was given to the person who raised the most money.
RAG Society’s Chairperson, Gary Gillick spoke of the importance of the event and their newly-registered Irish Charity, “Rag Ireland”. He told The College View: “We are a student initiative that aims to help others in need”.
Gillick said he hopes “to entice people to raise money and awareness for charity, it went really well last year. Hopefully this year will be the same”.
Third year Communications student, Karen Hewitt, really enjoyed the event. “I think it’s a brilliant idea…it’s really good to see events like this taking place so early in the year. It will help us expand and do loads more.” Daithí De Buitléir also ran the mile and told The College View before the run: “It’s a really good event…we are getting students out there and showing them they can do good things in society”. RAG Soc organised the event to raise money for various charities and organisations and they aim to help various local organisations such as the Aisling Project in Ballymun, an after-school drop-in initiative, which helps children at risk.
Last year RAG Soc raised €3,000 for Sean Lynn, a 19-yearold teenager from Crumlin who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The money raised was put towards potential lifesaving treatment.
The DCU RAG Soc is the first of its kind in Ireland and is now one of DCU’s most successful new societies. It was established last year with the ethos of “raising and giving” with student friendly activities and fundraisers.
Gill Fitzsimons is our Deputy News Editor
Image Credit: Fiona Hughes
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