Thank you, Guardian Money readers, for your remarkable response to last week’s How I Spend It which featured Micheal Olorode, 21, and his struggle to pay his way through university.

Donations have poured in, entirely unprompted by us or Micheal, while one reader went so far as to set up a GoFundMe page that has already received more than £4,000 in contributions.

‘I work night shifts until 8am and start university at 9am’ Read more

Micheal, who finishes night shifts at 8am then starts university at 9am to fund his ambition to become an NHS physiotherapist, said: “The support has been overwhelming. I never anticipated to receive any support regarding my story, but everyone has been so sincere, whether that be words of support, advice, encouragement or financially. [The GoFundMe page] was made possible by a total stranger who reached out and wanted to gather others to help. The money will make a big difference to my life, but it’s been amazing simply to see how many people can come together and help someone, despite never asking or feeling entitled to such generosity.”

The GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/help-michael-olorode-with-university.

GoFundMe – which is itself making a donation – says it always ensure donations make it to the intended beneficiary. A spokesman said: “We never release funds until we’re absolutely sure they’re getting to right place, which in cases like this means them going directly to Micheal as the beneficiary. This means that kind hearted strangers can start pages to help others and donors can give in absolute confidence that the money is guaranteed to get to the right place.”