Heart-shaped flowerbed unveiled at Falls Park to raise awareness of organ donation
The floral bed has been planted by the council’s gardeners with ‘red devil’ begonias and ‘silver dust’ foliage.
A heart-shaped flowerbed has been planted in Belfast’s Falls Park to raise awareness for organ donation.
Today (Thursday) the Lord Mayor, Councillor Kate Nicholl, was joined by organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann and some of his family.
Four-year-old Dáithí from west Belfast was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and has undergone major surgery, but now needs a heart transplant.
His family have set up the Donate4Dáithí campaign to raise awareness of NHS Organ Donation.
Last week the campaign and Dáithí’s family welcomed the news that the Northern Ireland Executive gave agreed to progress the soft opt-out organ donation bill to proceed by way of urgent procedure to the Assembly.
The bill would mean people automatically became donors unless they specifically say otherwise.
The Lord Mayor said: “I’m really delighted to unveil this beautiful floral bed in Falls Park with Dáithí and his father Máirtín, to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and to encourage people to sign the organ donor register.
“Dáithí is an inspiration being so brave, at such a young age, in undergoing a number of open heart surgeries in recent years.
“That inspiration will be shared with all when I get the special honour of reading out a letter by him at the start of July’s Council meeting which is one of my goals in my year in office to focus on children and young people in our city and making sure their voices are heard.”
Dáithí’s father Máirtín Mac Gabhann said he was “thrilled” and “honoured” that Councillor Kate Nicholl, unveiled the new flowerbed at their local park.
He said: “We have had a fantastic relationship with City Hall and previous Mayors.
“The people of Belfast have been instrumental in the success of our campaign and we are just delighted that our first citizen has continued that support.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Belfast City Council in having these flowerbeds in their parks and hope that they encourage people to have the conversation about organ donation and to say #YesIDonate.”
Another floral bed in support of the NHS Organ Donation campaign has been planted at Ormeau Park.
While last month, a flowerbed was unveiled in Botanic Gardens, in front of the Palm House, in tribute to the NHS and local healthcare staff.
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