The Dunedin Women’s Refuge will receive a $24,000 cash boost thanks to fundraising efforts by a group of University of Otago law students.
Last week, about 50 law students ran a baking sale, quiz evening, collection and auction for the support service.
Fundraising organiser Maddi Ingham (20) said the week-long effort was planned to coincide with the national Women’s Refuge appeal.
"We started planning how to fund-raise late last year."
Miss Ingham was involved with a similar fundraising initiative last year, which raised about $18,000 for the refuge.
It was important to raise even more this year because the Dunedin Women’s Refuge was reliant on donations to fund about 40% of the service, she said.
"When we have been fundraising you have people come up and say ‘oh I am donating because my friend stayed at the Women’s Refuge or I used the service’.
"Domestic violence can literally happen to anyone."
Dunedin Women’s Refuge manager Wenda Parata-Muir said the students had been "instrumental" in supporting the service.
"They are so vibrant and they say they learn a lot from working with us, too."
The donation would be used to help continue the therapy, education and emergency accommodation services, in the face of ever-increasing running costs, she said.
