All About Cork: Kids get into their PJs to help support diabetes awareness

Primary schools from across Cork are set to wear onesies, pyjamas, and nightwear to school on November 15 to help raise awareness for children of their age diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

Organised by Cork University Hospital (CUH) Charity in collaboration with CUH Paediatric Diabetes Team, the campaign aims to raise vital funds for the Paediatric Diabetes Service at CUH while raising awareness about the life-altering condition that affects thousands of children across Ireland.

The purpose of the day is that students will learn about diabetes in a fun, educational way.

Type 1 diabetes is a serious autoimmune condition that affects more than 2,500 children and young people in Ireland.

The lifelong condition requires daily insulin management, regular blood sugar monitoring and constant vigilance to avoid life-threatening complications.

The Paediatric Diabetes Service at CUH provides critical care and support to young patients and their families, helping them manage the condition and live full, healthy lives.

With the incidence of Type 1 diabetes on the rise, funding for essential services like education, specialised equipment, and family support is more important than ever.

CUH Charity will provide participating schools with engaging and age-appropriate educational resources to help students understand what diabetes is, how it affects those living with the condition, and what can be done to support friends and classmates who have it.

Students and staff are invited to join in the fun by wearing their cosiest onesie or pyjamas to school on Friday, November 15, to show solidarity with peers living with Type 1 diabetes while raising much-needed funds for the Paediatric Diabetes Service at CUH.

Schools taking part are asked to share photos taken on the day to help spread the message of support on social media using the hashtag #TypeOnesieDay.

• www.cuhcharity.ie/type-onesie-day

Serve the local community

St Joseph’s Church in Wilton (SMA Wilton) has appealed to people in the community to support its charity appeal for the month of October.

The Serve Flip Flop appeal, organised by the Redemptorist Missionaries in Scala, Blackrock, who participated in the church’s recent International Fun Day, was chosen for the church’s October appeal. Serve is a development and volunteering organisation committed to providing equal opportunities for poor communities living in Southern Africa, South-East Asia, and South America.

Serve works in partnership with local communities and organisations to offer high-quality vocational and educational learning opportunities, helping young people gain employment or start their businesses.

Since 2003, Serve has placed more than 1,200 volunteers on overseas assignments and contributed more than €20m to development projects.

So far this month St Joseph’s Church has collected €1,866 for Serve.

Art works in hospice calendar

St Joseph’s Church in Wilton (SMA Wilton) has appealed to people in the community to support its charity appeal for the month of October.

The Serve Flip Flop appeal, organised by the Redemptorist Missionaries in Scala, Blackrock, who participated in the church’s recent International Fun Day, was chosen for the church’s October appeal. Serve is a development and volunteering organisation committed to providing equal opportunities for poor communities living in Southern Africa, South-East Asia, and South America.

Serve works in partnership with local communities and organisations to offer high-quality vocational and educational learning opportunities, helping young people gain employment or start their businesses.

Since 2003, Serve has placed more than 1,200 volunteers on overseas assignments and contributed more than €20m to development projects.

So far this month St Joseph’s Church has collected €1,866 for Serve.

15 startups to benefit from New Frontiers mentorship

The Rubicon Centre at Munster Technological University (MTU) has announced the start of the Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Phase 2 programme.

Some 15 start-ups, spanning various industries, from sustainable packaging to AI-driven platforms, have been selected.

Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme supports early-stage entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas in to scalable businesses.

The six-month programme includes practical mentoring, financial support, and access to vital resources. It equips entrepreneurs with the skills to grow their businesses, from securing investment to scaling for international markets.

Key features of Phase 2 include mentorship, incubation space, networking opportunities, and tailored training.

Paul Healy, manager of The Rubicon Centre, said: “We are extremely proud to host such a diverse and innovative group of entrepreneurs this year. The 2024 cohort is unique, not only for the innovative solutions they are developing, but also for the equal representation of men and women.”

Cycle raises €25k for CUH

The Malin-to-Mizen cycle group recently presented their final cheque, for €25,565, to CUH Charity.

The group cycled the length of Ireland in July, from its most northern point to its most southern point in six days, in aid of the Aoife O’Sullivan Education Fund.

This fund helps to advance the education of nurses in the oncology department at CUH, in memory of Aoife O’Sullivan, who had dedicated her life to education, before she passed in 2018.

“We would like to thank the O’Sullivan family, the amazing members of the cycle group for completing the journey, their families, friends and everyone who supported them in achieving this amazing result,” CUH Charity posted on social media.

Place names podcast

The Local Studies Library on Carrigrohane Road has released its most recent podcast, exploring place names in Ireland. Host of the podcast, Kieran Wyse, explores the curiosity that exists about place names across the country from each county to smaller units, such as streets and townlands.

Mr Wyse said that such curiosity generates regular queries in libraries and that the podcast explores some library resources that can help in providing the answers, including reference books and work by dedicated enthusiasts and scholarly books from historians.

To listen to the podcast, visit tinyurl.com/4pz9cczc.

Hospital needs volunteers

Cork University Hospital is looking for volunteers to provide a meet-and-greet service.

The hospital is seeking interest from those who have four hours of free time to offer once a week to assist patients and visitors.

Volunteers are required to have fluent English, interactive skills, organisational skills, and enthusiasm, and those interested are asked to contact Patient Advocacy Liaison Services in the quality and patient safety department of CUH at 021 492 2822.

Have Bishopstown news to share? Contact breda.graham@theecho.ie