Queen’s Student Nurse Volunteering in Lourdes

Hello, my name is Katie Byrne and I am a Student Nurse going into second year in Queens University Belfast. I have been given the opportunity to volunteer with the Irish Pilgrimage Society in Lourdes 2025 with Children and Young People with special needs and I am thoroughly looking forward to this exciting opportunity.

In the past I have worked with the Learning Support Centre in my old Secondary School, St. Paul’s Highschool Bessbrook as a Year 8 mentor, helping first years with special needs navigate their way through a new school routine with new people and new possibilities. Since then I have had a huge interest in working with children and young people with special needs, as they gave me new outlook on life, and showed me that you have the ability to do anything you put your mind to. The children in the learning support centre in St. Paul’s made me laugh and filled me with happiness every day, and it was an absolute pleasure to be their year 8 mentor. I am very appreciative to the Irish Pilgrimage for allowing me to give back to the community by volunteering with them in Lourdes to help more children like the students who impacted my life so greatly.

In Lourdes I will be assisting these children and young people, alongside nurses and carers, with many day to day activities while ensuring that they are having a fun, memorable time. We will be taking them on trips to the mountains and the Grotto and attending mass.

The money raised will enable me to fly to Lourdes and pay for my accommodation and food, organised by the Irish Pilgrimage. Any donation is greatly appreciated.

Thank you