THE TRAGIC death of a 17-year-old student last September has prompted a Midlands school to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD).
Students at Moate Community School in Co Westmeath have submitted a project entitled The Shock of Your Life to the finals of the Young Social Innovators of the Year awards, which take place tomorrow and Thursday in the RDS, Dublin. The event will be opened by President Mary McAleese.
Their colleague Tony Parker died after he collapsed in class at Moate Community School just days into the school year in September of 2007.
His death, along with those of students in Athlone and in Co Tyrone in the same week, raised awareness of SCD to new levels.
Since Tony Parker’s death, Moate has raised funds for two defibrillators. Defibrillators, which administer a shock which corrects the rhythm of the heart, have proved to be a lifesaver. Their project will highlight that SCD should not deter people from playing sport.
Young Social Innovators (YSI) was set up in 2002 to raise social awareness and activism among 15- to 18-year-olds, by social campaigners Sr Stanislaus Kennedy and Rachel Collier. They were concerned about the absence of social awareness education for students.
Six thousand young people between the ages of 15 and 18 have taken part this year. Following a series of local events, 200 projects from 132 schools have been selected for the exhibition, with each in contention for the main award.
Health is one of 10 categories included in YSI. Along with Moate Community School, five other projects have been submitted in the health category.
The Live Your Life Before You Start a New One from Loreto College in Clonmel hopes to reduce teenage pregnancies. The Presentation Secondary School in Tralee also highlights teenage pregnancy in its What to Expect project.
St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath focuses on suicide awareness. St Mary’s Secondary School in New Ross, Co Wexford promotes individuality and self-esteem among young people. Beara Community School, Castletownbere, Co Cork raises awareness of men’s health in rural areas. Rosses Community School in Co Donegal highlights the issue of Alzheimer’s disease.
