Local donors among those honoured at IBTS event
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Westmeath donors, Dympna Leahy, Andrea O’Connor, Cathal O’Reilly, Nadine Flanagan, 100-time donor, and Michelle McArdle, with donor attendants Jackie Ross (far left) and Anne Kane (far right).Image 2 of 2
Irish Blood Transfusion Service staff (back from left) Raymond Lawrence, Jackie Ross, Iosif Korpas, area manager, Tina Selby, director of nursing; Siobhan Morrison, practice development; Martina Duffy, Ruth Dunne, Michelle McArdle, Kate Kerley and Andrew Kelly; (front) Emma Fitzgerald, Sonia Keenan, Anna Callaghan, Orla O’Brien, chief executive officer; Jennifer O’Kane and Anne Kane.Five people from Westmeath, including one 100-time donor, were among those whose achievements were recognised at the Irish Blood Transfusion Services annual Gold Drop and Porcelain Pelican Awards Ceremony for the North-East, Midlands region on Friday 15 May.
In total, 82 50-time donors received Gold Drops and 17 100-time donors received Porcelain Pelicans at the ceremony in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, and they were joined by their guests from counties Westmeath, Longford, Meath, Kildare, North County Dublin, Cavan, Leitrim, Louth and Monaghan.
Iosif Korpas, area manager for the Ardee Centre, MC for the ceremony, welcomed everyone including IBTS board members and congratulated all the donors.
Chief executive officer Orla O’Brien thanked donors and said that donating 50 times is an achievement but donating 100 times is awe inspiring.
"It is lovely to meet the donors, as without their help, we could not benefit the many people in our hospitals every day in Ireland," she said.
Ms O’Brien presented the awards to the donors.
Emma Gilbey spoke on behalf of her family and thanked all the donors present from the bottom of her heart. Emma received blood before and throughout the four hours of emergency surgery that followed during the birth of her son Charlie. Charlie, now 14, also stood at the podium and thanked donors for saving his mother’s life, and received a huge round of applause from the audience.
In his closing address, Mr Korpas thanked the donors on their accomplishments.
He said donating 50 and 100 times requires significant dedication and they are truly inspiring. He also thanked Ms Gilbey for sharing her story, reminding all why blood donations are always required.