Student’s daring scheme to get to uni ball
LIKE most students, Charlotte Duff desperately wants to go to the uni ball.
The only problem is she’s studying over 10,000km away ... and she says she’s skint.
But rather than admit defeat, she’s willing to go to - almost - any lengths to fund a flight back to the UK.
The 21-year-old is studying at Newcastle University’s Malaysian campus.
She’s trying to crowdfund £700 to fly back to Tyneside for a society ball on May 5.
And for every fundraising milestone hit, she’s vowed to upload footage on Instagram performing some pretty gross stunts.
Eating snails, drinking vodka from a sock and wearing a watermelon on her head to lectures all feature.
And she’s even vowed to kiss any man who donates at least a tenner to her flight fund.
“I am least looking forward to wearing a pair of socks for 24 hours, running a mile at midday and then drinking a quarter litre of vodka through the sock as there is a potential that I could die,” said the Biomedical sciences student.
“But the ultimate goal is worth that risk.”
The Newcastle-born student came up with the idea in a bid to make Newcastle University’s Ski and Snowboard Club black-tie ball.
On its website, the society says: “Our way of rewarding our loyal members is some seeeerious socials. Anyone can get involved and come to the socials, just prepare your liver, because we don’t do things by halve.”
And the stunt seems to be working, with over £300 already flooding in to her JustGiving page.
The money means Charlotte has to eat a fish head and a full plate of grass - while also applying for ITV’s Love Island.
But she admits to shooting down some stunt suggestions.
“I drew the line at cutting all of my hair off and getting a tattoo,” she said. “Even if I did raise all of the money doing that I don’t think my parents would let me back into the house.”
She chose to study at the Malaysia campus rather than Newcastle claiming it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Due to visa restrictions, she can’t work to fund the flights - but admits she’s been stunned by people’s response.
“The fact that people are actually donating to watch me post stupid things on my Instagram story is amazing,” she said.
“Some of my close friends thought it was a crazy idea ... I didn’t think anyone would be willing to sponsor me more than £10!
“I might have to think of another reward other than kissing to say thanks.”