Blood donors receive awards
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Back Row (L-R): Terry Lennon, Thomas Alexander, Laurence McCabe, Mark Sherlock, Peter Hand, Denis Finnegan, Cyril Fannin 100 Time Donor, Eugene Higgins. Middle Row (L-R): Padraig Flynn, Donal Brady, Raymond Arnold 100 Time Donor, Pat Murphy, Philip O’Reilly, Fintan Cooney 100 Time Donor, Patrick Cunningham 100 Time Donor, Eugene Cunningham 100 Time Donor, PJ O’Reilly 100 Time Donor. Front Row (L-R): James Farrelly, Bridget Burke, Mary O’Reilly, Brigid Coyle, Valerie Brady, Paul Cox, Ben Brady.Image 2 of 2
Back Row (L-R): Sonia Keenan Clinical Nurse Manager, Aidan Ward, Paul McElroy 100 Time Donor, Steven Monahan 100 Time Donor, Celestine McKenna 100 Time Donor, Hugh McCague, Ambrose McKenna. Front Row (L-R): Francie Duffy, Kate Reilly, Annmarie Connolly, Anna-Marie McCleary, Cathy McGuinness, Kate Kerley Donor Attendant, Paul Hughes.Committed blood donors from Monaghan and Cavan were rewarded for their efforts at a special event recently.
The Gold Drop and Porcelain Pelican Awards Ceremony for the North-East, Midlands’s region, organised by Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), was held in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan on Friday, May 15.
Eighty two 50 time Donors received their Gold Drop and seventeen 100-time Donors received their Porcelain Pelicans at the ceremony. Donors and their guests attended from counties, Cavan, North County Dublin, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Westmeath.
Chief Executive Officer Orla O’Brien thanked the donors, stating that donating 50 times is quite an achievement but donating 100 times is awe inspiring.
"It is lovely to personally meet the donors who without their help could not benefit the many people in our hospitals every day in Ireland," said Ms O'Brien.
The CEO presented each of the 50 time donors with their Gold Drop awards, and the Porcelain Pelicans to the 100 time donors.
Mrs Emma Gilbey spoke on behalf of her family and thanked all the donors present. Emma received blood before and throughout the four hours of emergency surgery that followed during the birth of her son Charlie. Fourteen-year-old Charlie took to the podium and thanked donors for saving his Mum’s life, receiving a huge round of applause from the audience.
Iosif Korpas, Area Manager thanked all the donors on their "fantastic accomplishment" of donating 50 and 100 times saying this requires "significant dedication" and they are "truly inspiring".
Iosif also thanked Emma for sharing her powerful story, reminding us all why blood donations are always required.