Ciaran Boland fundraising for Societies of University of Galway
Hi guys, my name is Ciaran Boland and I'm a third year medical student in the University of Galway fundraising with HST in support of our partner hospitals in Malawi and Zambia. Every cent we raise goes towards providing vital supplies for these hospitals. As part of this partnership, we have the opportunity to visit this summer and learn from their vast experience and clinical practice. All money donated on this page goes towards badly needed resources for the hospitals; all students cover the costs of travel and accommodation themselves. I would be extremely grateful for any donation, big or small - every contribution will help make a valuable difference towards those who need it. Thanks so much 🙌🏻
About Societies of University of Galway
The Societies in the University of Galway organise numersous fundraising camaigns each year.
They raise in excess of €100.000 annually for numerous very worthy causes.
100% of fundriased on this platform goes to the charity.
Your donation is very welcome.
About Healthcare Students Thar Lear - Hospitals in Malawi and Zambia
Healthcare Students Thar Lear (HST) — formerly Voluntary Services Abroad — is a student-led charitable society within the University of Galway dedicated to raising funds for essential medical supplies for our three partner hospitals in Malawi and Zambia.
Each year, our members work directly with the medical directors of each partner hospital to identify and fund the purchase of urgently needed medical supplies. All funds raised go directly to our partner hospitals, as participating students cover their own travel and living expenses. On average, we raise over €20,000 per hospital, ensuring that every euro donated is used to directly improve patient care and hospital resources. Recent contributions have included 30,000 syringes, life-saving emergency medications such as adrenaline and artesunate, and thousands of surgical sutures and colostomy bags to support safe operations. We’ve also funded vital neonatal and maternity equipment — from fetal heartbeat stethoscopes to children’s oxygen masks — along with larger items like wheelchairs, infusion chairs, and patient trolleys to improve comfort and care delivery across our partner hospitals.
While students do travel to the partner hospitals, this is not a volunteering programme — our time there is focused on learning alongside Malawian and Zambian medical students in resource-limited settings, gaining valuable clinical experience while fostering cross-cultural collaboration and understanding.
Through our partnership with the Galway Races we raise funds through Student Race Day. We also host a variety of fundraising events throughout the year — including our St. Patrick’s Day Bed Push, pub quizzes, bake sales, and half-marathon sponsorships — all in our efforts to reach our annual fundraising targets.
Through our rebrand to Healthcare Students Thar Lear, we aim to highlight our true purpose — students supporting global healthcare in a way that is sustainable and meaningful.
