ARARAT residents are being urged to support Ronald McDonald House Charities this McHappy Day.
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One person who knows just how important it is to donate on Saturday, October 17, is Emma Hobson.
The Ararat mother was admitted into Monash Medical Centre in early December 2014 due to threatened labour at 24 weeks. Lilith McIntosh was born on January 12, 2015 at 29 weeks and two days later she dropped down to 990 grams.
Ms Hobson spent six weeks at Ronald McDonald House in Clayton, and expressed her appreciation for the service.
“It was amazing. The house was on the grounds, right behind the hospital. I can’t even express how great it was,” Ms Hobson said.
“Just to know we were right there and could go in and out whenever we wanted to...We had our own key, a shared kitchen and a playroom for the kids. It accommodated the whole family.”
In a twist, Ms Hobson had stayed in the exact same house with her mother 21 years ago.
“I obviously never imagined that I would one day end up staying there (in the room next door) for my own daughter,” she said.
This year McHappy Day is aiming to raise a record breaking $3.4 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) which equates to providing a bed for around 25,000 nights for Australian families at one of the 16 Ronald McDonald Houses across Australia.
Now in its 25th year, McHappy Day has raised over $28 million for RMHC with funds going directly to supporting RMHC programs and services.
Supporting McHappy Day is easy – Residents can simply drop in to Ararat McDonald’s to buy a Big Mac, a pair of Ronald Socks for $3 or a $1 Helping Hand ($2 from every Big Mac and all Helping Hands and Ronald Socks sales will go to RMHC). Every dollar raised makes a big difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families.
Those who can’t make it into the restaurant on the day can donate online at www.rmhc.org.au/mchappyday.