UCD RFC president Barry Sheehan; UCD RFC club manager Ciara O’Connor; UCD WRFC captain Emma Kelly; John Hammond of UCD RFC; Sinead Gillespie of Irish Cancer Society, UCD President Professor Orla Feely; UCD Sport Management students Caithlin Walsh and Scarlett Herron; and UCD Director of Student Services Dominic O’Keeffe Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
UCD Rugby Football Club (RFC) has raised ¤71,434.64 for the Irish Cancer Society during their annual Daffodil Day campaign.
The figure was described as -unprecedentedby John Hammond, who volunteers with the club.
It contributes to the total amount of ¤190,000 that the club has raised for the charity in the last number of years.
Launched on 25 February, the official UCD RFC Daffodil Day took place on 6 March, accompanied by various events, both on campus and online.
Second year students of UCD-s BSc Sport, Health and Exercise Science course helped to organise the RFC-s Daffodil Day for their event management module, working since September to plan the fundraising activities.
Events included a pub quiz and raffle at the UCD Clubhouse, a darts tournament and fitness challenges in the UCD Sports Centre.
Volunteers were also situated across campus to take donations from passers-by.
EY, the sponsors of the UCD RFC, sent around 30 of its employees to campus on Daffodil Day to help sell daffodil pins.
-That makes a huge difference to what we do,- said Hammond. -The more people we have collecting on campus, the more people will contribute.-
Subsequent events in the weeks that followed included the annual Daffodil Day Ladies- Lunch in UCD-s Astra Hall.
Sport, Health and Exercise Science students volunteered their time to wait tables for the event. The total income from the Ladies- Lunch alone was over ¤30,000.
In addition, the club held an online raffle, which students could enter to win signed rugby jerseys from the Ireland, New Zealand and England teams.
Gate receipts from a UCD vs. Landsdowne FC match also contributed to the fundraiser.
The club showed their gratitude via social media to those who took part, saying: -A huge thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and supported us along the way - your kindness and generosity will make a real difference.-
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
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