The final tally is in and it was a record-setting week for a group of University of Lethbridge students looking to raise money for youth homelessness.

Participating in the 5 Days for the Homeless campaign, the U of L students set $10,000 in funds as a goal. After a long week of cold days and even colder nights, the group surpassed the target, raising a toal of $12,064.80, or 121 per cent of the original goal. Last year, another group of students first participated in the challenge and managed to raise just under $8,000.

Kathleen Barteaux, Tim Coker, Kyla Cottom, Daniel Meller and Derrek Wenisch were the participating students, while Amanda Miller co-organized the event.

All money raised during the campaign is to be donated to Wood's Homes Foundation, a multi-service charity serving the most troubled young people in our community.

The five-day campaign began at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 15 and concluded Friday, Mar. 20 at 5 p.m. Throughout that time, the U of L students remained outdoors, on campus, living just outside the Students' Union Building.

A total of 16 communities across Canada participated in the campaign with a combined $160,200 raised.