National 5km #Walk4Families Event Takes Place on 10th / 11th September
Funds raised go to supporting families with seriously ill children in hospital
Ronald McDonald House Charity Ireland has a new national fundraising initiative, called #Walk4Families. This fundraising initiative aims to raise vital funds for a new Ronald McDonald House that will accommodate 53 families alongside the New Children’s Hospital when it opens on the grounds of St James’s Hospital in 2020.
#Walk4Families is a national 5K Fundraising Walk, which will take place all over Ireland on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September in various venues around the country. The walk is an event designed to include everybody, taken at a pace suitable for all members of the family and includes family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained.
Calling for support from all corners of Ireland for this initiative, CEO (Volunteer) of Ronald McDonald House Charity in Ireland, Marian Carroll, said: “We are calling on people to support our #Walk4Families event taking place all over Ireland on 10th and 11th September. At the moment, families who have stayed with us in the Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin are organising 15 walks across the country on the weekend of 10th/11th September. Our track record of helping 3000 families across Ireland since 2004 means that people all over the country know the importance of the services we provide. We are asking that people organise a walk in their own county to support the future healthcare needs for children in Ireland. Let’s all help families and children who will be staying at the new Children’s Hospital for treatment or surgery.”
“We are asking for people to participate that weekend, to bring their children, to enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere and, most of all, to support families who have a seriously ill child in hospital. For €20, people can take part in the walk and support a brilliant cause that makes a challenging time for families so much easier. If families can’t do the walk that weekend, they can still contribute using our text donation service,” she continued.
The cost to build and fit out the new 53 bedroom Ronald McDonald House at the National Children’s Hospital will be in excess of €16 million. Since 2004, the Ronald McDonald House has provided accommodation, care and support for almost 3,000 families whose seriously ill children have been hospitalized or are undergoing treatment at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
Each #Walk4Families event has been organised at local level by families who have stayed in The Ronald McDonald House while their own children were seriously sick in Crumlin Children’s Hospital and any form of support to them in this initiative is very welcome. The Galway walk is being organised by Rosie Conneely whose family stayed in The Ronald McDonald House while their daughter was in Crumlin Hospital.
Rosie Conneely (Galway) said: “Having a sick child far from home, families and friends is difficult, expensive and emotionally challenging. We will always be grateful to the Ronald McDonald House Charity and the wonderful staff and volunteers who looked after our family while the hospital looked after our very sick child. We are asking families around the country to join a #Walk4Families event near you on 10th or 11th September or to run a #Walk4Families event in order to support the Ronald McDonald House.”
Connacht rugby player and Ronald McDonald House Ambassador Jake Heenan will officially start the Galway #Walk4Families.
Commenting on the importance of supporting families who have a sick child in hospital, Jake Heenan, Connacht Rugby player & RMHC Ambassador said: “The main reason I got involved was because my younger brother suffered health complications when he was born very premature. This was naturally a very difficult time for me and my family, and I am very supportive of the work the Ronald McDonald House Charity does to lighten that burden for families.”
Frances Higgins from Salthill, Galway stayed in the Ronald McDonald House when both of her children were sick in hospital. Ailbhe, aged 7, has a congenital heart defect and to date has had three major open heart surgeries and numerous other interventions. Evan, aged 5, was born at 26 weeks and spent the first 15 and half weeks of his life in hospital.
“Being able to stay in the Ronald McDonald House was a godsend for us when one of the kids were in hospital. It gave us a base to be with the child who was in hospital but also to have the other child with us so that we could function as a family while based in the hospital in Dublin. It became our home away from home for the time we were there and we are very grateful for it – we really needed the support and comfort the Ronald McDonald House provided”, Frances Higgins said.
To participate in the walk you can register now at https://www.iregister.ie/v2/events/walk4families/ Registration is only €20 per family. For more information on the walk, you can follow #Walk4Families on Facebook/RMHCDublin | www.rmhc.ie or call Joe Kenny 01 4560435 to find out more about arranging a walk in your area.
If you cannot attend a #Walk4Families please Text HOUSE to 50300 to donate €4 (Texts cats €4 | Minimum €3.26 to charity | Service provider Like Charity | 076 6805278)
All funds raised from #Walk4Families and Texts goes directly to The Ronald McDonald House Charity, an independent charity run by a Board of Trustees appointed by the charity.
National Walk Venues:
Cork – Ballincollig Park (Start Time: 11am) 11th September
Donegal – Glenfinn GLC (Start Time: 11am) 10th September
Dublin – Tymon Park, Templeogue, Dublin 24 (Start Time: 2pm ) 10th September
Fermanagh – Enniskillen (Start Time: TBC) 11th September
Galway – The Salthill Prom (Start Time: 12 pm) 10th September
Limerick – UL Boathouse (Start Time: 2 pm) 10th September
Louth – Naomh Fionnbharra GAA Club, Ballygassan (Start Time:12pm) 11th September
Mayo – Ballina Athletic Club, Belleek Wood (Start Time: 3pm) 11th September
Meath – Porch Fields, Trim (Start Time: 11am) 11th September
Tipperary – The Riverbank Walk, Presentation Convent, Clonmel (Start Time: 11am) 11th September
Wexford – St Martin’s GAA Club, Piercestown (Start Time: 11am) 11th September
Wicklow – Tinahely (Start Time: 2pm) 10th September (This is a Colour Run please contact waynedriscoll78@icloud.com for more details / joanne.kiely@rmhc.ie for sponsorship cards)