Faughart CNS celebrates World Blood Donor Day 2024

Faughart CNS marked World Blood Donor Day on Friday, 14th June 2024, with a series of events aimed at educating and inspiring pupils about the importance of blood donation and community service.

This year's celebration coincided with the 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, a World Health Organisation initiative designed to promote voluntary, unpaid blood donation globally.

To commemorate this milestone, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) invited landmarks and buildings across Ireland to “Go Red.”

Among the participants was the Department of Health building on Baggot Street, joining the nationwide effort to raise awareness.

In a highlight of the day, Faughart CNS welcomed Damien from Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes, a vital charity run entirely by volunteers.

Damien provided an engaging talk about their mission, which includes the transportation of blood, blood products, human tissue, patient files, X-rays, and infant milk to hospitals in the HSE North Eastern Region.

The charity serves counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath, and Louth and collaborates with other Blood Bike groups across Ireland and NHS facilities in County Fermanagh.

The pupils at Faughart CNS demonstrated their support for Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes by donating over €100 to the charity.

They were enthusiastic about the life-saving work and thrilled by the presence of the blood bike itself.

This event is part of Faughart CNS's commitment to the Goodness Me, Goodness You! (GMGY) curriculum, which promotes holistic child development through identity education, values education, philosophy, and multi-denominational religious education.

GMGY encourages children to engage with and contribute to their local community, fostering psychological and emotional well-being through critical, creative, collaborative, and caring thinking.

As a designated DCU Changemaker School, Faughart CNS is dedicated to promoting social innovation and positive change within the community.

The celebration of World Blood Donor Day not only highlighted the significance of blood donation but also underscored the school's commitment to developing pupils as conscientious and compassionate individuals ready to make a difference in the world.