NEWSLETTER

Youthreach Miltown Malbay wins X-HALE Youth
Award for Best Tobacco Industry message
Youthreach Miltown Malbay
have been announced Overall
Winner for the best tobacco
industry message at the Irish
Cancer Society Youth Awards
2015. The students from
Youthreach Miltown Malbay
scooped the award for their
film project called “project X”
which was showcased at the
recent event in the Lighthouse
Cinema in Smithfield.
Over 41 youth groups from
Ireland’s first smoke-free generation
competed in the Irish
Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth
Awards 2015. Calling themselves
#theXgeneration, the
youth groups showcased films
and community action projects
which they created on the
issue of smoking. The X-HALE
Youth Awards is an initiative
of the Irish Cancer Society
which aims to empower young
people to create awareness
around the issue of smoking in
their own communities.
Youthreach Miltown Malbay
was awarded the title of
Overall Winner of the best
tobacco industry message
for their film “Project X”. The
groups involved competed
under various categories
with winners selected by an
independent judging panel
comprising of people from
the entertainment, film and
healthcare industries.
In line with the messages highlighted
by the young people
taking part in X-HALE, youth
smoking rates in Ireland have
continued to decline in recent
years, giving this generation
of young people the power
and the opportunity to make
sure that they are Ireland’s first
tobacco free generation.
They decided to take on smoking
in their own communities
and the results are extremely
powerful. The film which they
have developed shows that
#theXgeneration is here to
stay. They can be Ireland’s
first smoke-free generation
and they are telling us in their
own way that the time is up
Tralee Students Visit to AHAR
for the tobacco industry in this
country.
Congratulations to Youthreach
Miltown Malbay for taking
part and for making a positive
impact on their health and
that of their peers. We need
to look at what the Youthreach
Miltown Malbay students and
the rest of the #theXgeneration
are saying. They are educated
on the issue of smoking and
are refusing to let their health
be affected by tobacco.
AHAR is an Animal Rescue service in Castleisland. They rehome and rescue
animals that need help. When I went there I enjoyed it a lot. I was
walking a dog that was put in there, because its owner was an older lady
who had hurt herself and was unable to look after the dog anymore. I
found this very sad and I felt like the woman was very lucky to be able
to trust AHAR to look after her dog until she was well enough to take
him back. The dog seemed happy and comfortable with the staff which
was a good thing to see. He didn’t seem nervous or anything while I was
walking him either, he was well looked after by the looks of it. The one
thing I least enjoyed while being there was seeing this horse who had an eye
infection that looked so painful. But when we were talking to the staff about it,
she said the horse was in no pain what so ever and it just looked worse than
it was. The horse had been rescued from a field and was in an awful condition
when the AHAR staff found him. But luckily for him they cleaned him up
and made him better, but
unfortunately wasn’t able
to heal the infection, but
they treat it every day with
cream for pain relief so he’s comfortable and well looked after. I really
enjoyed spending time with the animals and know that it is so important
to take care of your pets.
Shauna Russell
27