Swords School’s Great Effort For Haiti
Monday, 08 March 2010 15:17 A very impressive €1,213 was collected by the students of St Finian’s Community College in Swords for the Haiti Appeal. The cheque was presented to the local Rotary Club and accepted by the president of Fingal Dublin Rotary Club, Gerry McInerney. The money was raised through a non-uniform day which was organised by the Student Council in the school. They went around the classes to collect from students and teachers alike. All students had to pay a minimum of €2 towards the non -uniform day. Caroline Cooney, the Student Council Liaison Officer told the County Leader, “It was a very well supported event and the students were very well aware of the unfortunate plight of the people of Haiti. The easiest way to help them was to have their own fundraiser. Everyone was anxious to play their part,” she concluded. The students will be delighted to hear that their money will go to a group of Irish Orthopaedic surgeons who will receive the Rotary cheque from the school. They have visited the country to see if there was scope for the Irish orthopaedic community to help in the relief efforts there. The amount and severity of injuries sustained in the earthquake was shocking and they were fortunate to meet with Dr Louise Ivers, an Irish doctor who works in Haiti. Dr Ivers is the medical director in Haiti for a Boston based charity called Partners in Health that runs 10 hospitals in the country. Unlike most hospitals in the area, these hospitals provide care free of charge to the poor. They visited a hospital in a place called Cange where they were able to operate on patients suffering from injuries sustained in the earthquake. Any money raised for this project will be used directly to transport staff to Cange hospital in Haiti or to source equipment for use in the hospital or one of its sister hospitals. Using contacts in the industry it is often possible to source equipment at cost or near to cost price. The effect of any funds raised can be seen directly in fractures fixed, wounds healed or artificial limbs fitted. This project is relatively small and can only do so much but its effect is immediate and direct and we are enormously grateful for any help forthcoming. |
