REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON HER VISIT TO THE IRISH UNRELATED BONE MARROW DONOR AWARD CEREMONY
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT TO THE IRISH UNRELATED BONE MARROW DONOR AWARD CEREMONY
Good morning everybody and thank you for that warm welcome. I am particularly glad to be here with you this morning and I am grateful to Kieran Healy for inviting me to join you in marking this important occasion.
There is something very special, indeed heroic, about the people we have gathered here to honour.
Being ill with a blood disorder such as leukaemia, bone marrow failure or congenital blood disorder is especially difficult where a transplant from a family member is not possible. Today we celebrate the Irish Donors who have given one, or in some cases, more than one bone marrow/stem cell donation. They have shown extraordinary generosity and human kindness, by knowingly putting themselves at potential risk of developing chronic complications that could impact negatively on their health and well-being.
The Award Ceremony is a well-deserved recognition of the enormous contribution that these 60 heroes and heroines have made. I gather that the award being presented to donors is a clock which symbolises the time they have given so generously to a stranger.
I have no doubt that finding a match for someone who needs it is much much better than winning the lottery. ‘Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte’ is as true today as it was when we first heard it in our school days.
I congratulate everyone associated with creating and making The Irish Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry happen, The Irish Blood Transfusion Service, the Collection and Transplant Centre based at St James’s Hospital and all those who contribute to the success of the harvest and transplant programme. I wish you every success in your future work.
I want to say a special word of thanks to the families of the donors. I would also like to thank the amazing 19,500 volunteers on the register of unrelated potential bone marrow donors who have agreed to have their blood tissue typed as potential donors. Their support is vital.
I hope you all enjoy every moment of today’s ceremony.
Comhghairdeas libh agus go n-éirí go geal libh. Go raibh maith agaibh.