DkIT Hospitality and Event Management students raise €1,830 for Irish Cancer Society – bringing 13-year fundraising total to over €20,000

The event, which took place in the Hospitality Department at DkIT, marked the 13th year of this annual fundraising initiative, bringing the total amount raised by Hospitality and Event Management students over the years to an incredible €20,000. 

The event has become a much-loved tradition at DkIT, bringing together staff and students from across the Institute to support an important cause while providing students with valuable hands-on experience in event planning, organisation and management. 

This year's event featured a fantastic selection of home-baked cakes and sweet treats, tea and coffee, a charity raffle with an impressive range of prizes and a variety of fundraising activities. 
A new addition to the programme this year was the Walk and Talk for Breast Cancer, which encouraged staff and students to take a short walk together, promoting physical activity, conversation and awareness while supporting the fundraising campaign. 

The event was organised and delivered by third-year Hospitality Management and Event Management students as part of their practical event planning module, allowing them to apply their organisational, marketing, teamwork and operational skills to a live event. 

Speaking following the event, Maria Roddy-Freyne, Lecturer in Hospitality and Event Management at DkIT, who has coordinated the annual fundraising initiative since its introduction, said: 
"I am incredibly proud of our third-year Hospitality and Event Management students, who put an enormous amount of work, creativity and enthusiasm into organising this year's Big Pink Coffee Morning. It was wonderful to see all their planning and preparation come together in such a successful event. This year is particularly special as it marks the 13th year of our annual Pink fundraising event. To think that, over those 13 years, our students and the wider DkIT community have raised over €20,000 for the Irish Cancer Society is something we can all be very proud of. For our students, this event is about much more than fundraising. It provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in planning and delivering a live event, working together as a team, solving problems and engaging with the wider college community, all while supporting a cause that makes a real difference to people's lives. 
I would also like to sincerely thank all the staff and students across DkIT who have supported this event, not just this year but throughout the past 13 years. The generosity and enthusiasm shown every year is fantastic, and it was particularly lovely to see so many people wearing pink and getting involved on the day." 

Hospitality student Cian Barry said: 

“It was a great morning that brought our two courses together to create a brilliant event. Everyone worked really well together and we were very happy to raise a fantastic €1,800.”

Event Management student Niamh White added:

“Everyone worked as a team to make the day enjoyable and planning the event was a great insight into the many more events we will be creating in the future.  The most memorable part about the event was that we collectively raised a brilliant amount of money for the Irish Cancer Society Breast Cancer Campaign.”