Much-loved teacher inspires students to raise over €4,000
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Ratoath College Students Raising Funds for Daffodil Day with the Help of a Friend the LambImage 2 of 7
Ratoath College Students Rowing and Walking to RomeImage 3 of 7
Ratoath Students Raise funds for Charities L to r Amber Mc Allister, Anya Clarke Carr, Margarita Baturova, Caoimhe McCormack Orla Byrne and Teacher Clara McCabeImage 4 of 7
Ratoath Students with Lables Made by the Students to Raise Monies for Daffodil Day Ruby Hussey, Evan Murphy, Orla Byrne and Amber Mc AlisterImage 5 of 7
Ratoath Teachers Walking and Rowing to RomeImage 6 of 7
Ratoath College students raising funds for Daffodil Day.Image 7 of 7
The late Aoife O’Sullivan.Students at Ratoath College honoured the memory of a much-loved teacher, Aoife O'Sullivan, last week by raising a whopping €4,126 for cancer charities.
They clocked up 2,500 km – a distance greater than that from Ratoath to Rome – by walking, running and cycling for this year's Daffodil Day.
Friday was a very exciting day at the school as teachers took on the students in a final push to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and Cork University Hospital, where Aoife was treated.
A much loved and admired teacher, Aoife sadly passed away in December 2018.
Originally from Co Kerry, she joined the staff of Ratoath College in 2016 and taught Irish and Geography.
Sixth year student and prefect, Amber McAllister recalls how much the students loved her. “She walked in on her first day with a witty remark. She was always very positive, funny and kind. She worked hard. She had found her niche in life. She was dearly loved by staff and students and is greatly missed.”
Orla Byrne a prefect who helped organise the event said “She wasn't my teacher, but everyone loved her. She was the person someone would go to if they needed positivity.”
Aoife has left a lasting legacy in the school and the students and staff have continued to celebrated her life and memory every since.
Last week's fundraiser by organised by members of the Cinnire team in the college.
“We wanted to honour her memory and the Irish Cancer Society is a great cause. All the students and staff in the schools have someone that has been affected by cancer,” said Orla.
On Friday, the school held a contest to see whether teachers or students would cover the furthest distance on the treadmill, bicycles and rowing machines in the school.
“The students won, but it was very close,” Orla explains.
Their teacher, Clara McCabe said the fundraiser started on Monday of last week when staff and students virtually set off from Ratoath to make a 2,000km journey across the Irish Sea towards Manchester, 270km away, before travelling down to London and across to Calais, onto Luxembourg at 1,000km before heading towards Switzerland, Milan and finally to Rome.
They actually covered 500km more than necessary for their journey.
On Friday evening they had raised €2,673 for the Irish Cancer Society. They also raised €650 for Cork University Hospital through a raffle.
The money continued to pour in however and by Monday, they had raised €4,126.