The Little Yellow Duck Project

This is Cecil. He's part of a very special movement: the Little Yellow Duck Project. All over the world, little crafted yellow duckies are popping up in unexpected places, looking for a home. The project has a serious basis. Founded in memory of a young woman who died of cystic fibrosis before a suitable lung donor was found (here's the page giving the full story), its aim is to make us think about the importance of donating blood, tissue and organs. The little duckies are powerful little messengers. It's very easy to get involved. Make a duck - knitted or crocheted or sewn. You'll find patterns here or you can make up your own! Print out a tag (there's several styles to choose from) which points to the Project's website so the message gets through. Then you leave your duck to be found, and the tag explains why he's there, waiting to be taken home. The lucky adopter of a duck can log the find - more than four thousand ducks all over the world have already spread the word. Some of the tags also have a space for the duck's name - that's how you'd know that our little crocheted chum above is called Cecil. And this is Gertrude. Between them, Cecil and Gertrude took an evening to make, and took 25g of aranweight (any weight will work beautifully if you choose a suitable needle or hook size). What's more, they're a ball to make! Here they are with their labels attached, waiting to find their new home. We can help save lives with these little characters. So will you join us in reminding the world, just by making someone smile, and then think, with a little yellow duck? And if you were in Stephen's Green earlier, just by the duckpond, maybe you saw Gertrude waiting patiently on a bench. She's got something important to tell someone.