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Siamo in Italia! Jailbreak students ‘escape’ 864 miles to Florence

Scott Caddick and Paul Rogers in Florence

Scott Caddick and Paul Rogers in Florence

Press release issued: 28 November 2011

Two industrious Bristol University students ‘escaped’ from Bristol and made it all the way to Italy in 36 hours, helping to raise £5,000 as part of the Students’ Union Jailbreak challenge.

Scott Caddick and Paul Rogers travelled 864 miles overland from Bristol to Florence courtesy of a series of free journeys on buses, trains, a ferry and by car.

A total of 63 students took part in the challenge, which also saw teams make it as far as Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Paris and Grenoble within the 36 time limit to raise money for Practical Action, a charity that works with communities around the world to tackle poverty through technology.

Scott and Paul initially hitch-hiked to Redhill from the bottom of the M32, before getting two trains to Dover. After two hours of waiting they finally got picked up by a German man who, having hitch-hiked across the UK himself as a child, took sympathy on the pair and drove them onto the ferry.

They then got talking to some members of the army who were on their way to a skiing holiday in Austria, who offered to drop them off in Innsbruck. From there, the sweet-talking students managed to get trains to Verona, Bologna and Prato before finally finishing their epic adventure in Florence.

Scott, who studies Mechanical Engineering, said: “It was an amazing opportunity; I couldn't recommend it more highly. We had such an adventure and met some really kind and interesting people along the way.”

Jailbreak is part of the Raising & Giving (RAG) student fundraising programme at the University of Bristol Students’ Union (UBU), which last year raised a fantastic £252,000 for local, national and international charities – the highest achievement in RAG’s 85-year history.  Total funds raised this year have already passed the £35,000 mark thanks in large part to the £5,000 raised by Jailbreak.

Student Fundraising Coordinator James McDonald, who organised the event, said: “Jailbreak is always great fun. Students have a fantastic experience while raising money for a really good cause.”

RAG fundraises for local, national, and international charities through events including city processions and street collections often in collaboration with societies at the University of Bristol.  RAG also promotes campaigns like Movember and raises funds for the Hodgkin Scholarship, which enables outstanding people in developing countries to gain access to higher education.

A second Jailbreak fundraiser is scheduled for February 2012. 

 

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