Blood donors awarded for their ongoing support of IBTS
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) held its annual Gold Drop and Porcelain Pelican awards ceremony for the North-East recently.
One hundred and twelve fifty time donors received their Gold Drop and eight 100 time Donors received their Porcelain Pelicans at the ceremony.
Donors and their guests attended from counties across the north east to celebrate their achievements. Finbar Gethins, Area Manager for the Ardee Centre was MC for the ceremony and welcomed everyone and congratulated all the donors on their significant achievements.
Prof. Anthony Staines, Chairperson of the Board of the IBTS performed the opening address and thanked donors from ‘ the bottom of my heart’ adding that giving blood fifty 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’. Prof. Anthony Staines presented each of the 50 time donors with their Gold Drop awards and the Porcelain Pelicans to the 100 time donors.
As the evening drew to a close Aoife Ashmore, a Leaving Certificate, student thanked all the Donors present for the blood donations that saved her life.
Aoife was diagnosed with scoliosis and required surgery in June 2012. There were complications with the surgery and she required eight units of blood and two units of platelets. She explained how she didn’t understand how much blood donation meant until it affected her, adding ‘if it wasn’t for donors like them, I wouldn’t be here today.
Andy Kelly, Chief Executive IBTS National Blood Centre also paid tribute to all donors.