Past pupil Ryan Cinnamond, with his mum Peggy, his dad John, pictured with students Emma Martin, Glen McKeown, Mrs Roisin Martin, and Head of Year 13 Ms Christine Fearon.

St Paul’s hosted an exciting school and community based event on Friday 8th November, in the form of a Blood Transfusion Day.  The NI Blood Transfusion Service ran two sessions in the school whereby students, staff and the wider community were invited to ‘give blood’.

Year 14 student, Emma Martin, and her mother, Roisin Martin, approached the school with the idea of doing a ‘blood raiser.’ This was in recognition of past pupil, Ryan Cinnamond, who recovered from a life threatening illness upon receiving 64 units of blood – the second biggest blood transfusion in the north ever.

As always, St Paul’s was willing to make an idea a reality and the Health & Social Care Department worked with Emma, her mother and the Cinnamond Family in the planning and co-ordination of this successful event.

The turnout to the Blood Transfusion Day was overwhelming, with fantastic support from eligible students, staff and the wider community.

The goal was to get 64 units of blood; this was far surpassed with 154 units being collected – with Ryan’s father donating the first unit. This event epitomises what St Paul’s is about and we hope that it will become an annual event.