COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING FOR S.T.E.P.S AND MACMILLAN
St. Colm’s High School, Draperstown, held a coffee morning on Saturday 12th October in aid of two very worthy charities S.T.E.P.S and Macmillan. The school has been supporting both charities for a number of years.
A Macmillan coffee morning is held annually for staff and pupils. In May 2018 staff participated in the Belfast Marathon and raised a phenomenal £8000 for Macmillan, in memory of their colleague and friend, Maura Mc Vey. S.T.E.P.S attended the event on Saturday. They provide advice to the school on a regular basis and speak to pupils at the annual Health and Well Being day. Karen Mc Guigan from S.T.E.P.S. spoke at Saturday’s event of the bond between the charity and the school. She informed those at the coffee morning of the work of S.T.E.P.S, the services they provide, and the importance of addressing the stigma of suicide and mental health. In 2017 a tree was planted in Susan’s Trail to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of S.T.E.P.S, visually reminding visitors to the Trail that it is ‘Ok not to be OK’. Together with the Men’s Shed they help in the care and development of our biodiversity area, Susan’s Trail.
These strong community links were recognised at the highest level when St. Colm’s were awarded the prestigious TES Sustainable School Award in June. In the summer of 2019 the Zachary Geddis Break the Silence Trust chose Susan’s Trail as a special place to donate their beautiful bird table in memory of Ronan Mc Guigan.
Ronan’s father, Malachy Mc Guigan continues to be a driving force in the care of this area.
St. Colm’s thanked all sponsors: Sperrin Bakery, Genesis, McErlain Bakery, Lynch’s Eurospar and Centra, Mrs. Mc Eldowney, and Cillian and Dáithí Quinn. They also thanked those who provided vouchers and gifts for the raffle: Sonny’s, Slim’s, Aroma, Burns&Co, Pearl and Grace, Time Out, Draperstown Chinese Takeaway, O’Kane’s Pharmacy, Sister’s Hair & Beauty, La De Di, Maxol, Apparo, Diamond Meats, Blades Barber, Conna Archibald Barbers, Solo Hair, Mrs. Donnelly and Annamarie Mullan, Ballinascreen GAC and Heron’s Chemist.
The pupils who visited the sponsors were thanked for their efforts, as were staff and pupils who gave freely of their time on Saturday to ensure the success of the day.
The school was overwhelmed with the generosity of the community which resulted in £2700 being raised for these two charities!!
