"Brick by brick" campaign underway

Letterkenny’s McDonalds restaurant is taking part in a fundraising campaign to help build a new ‘Ronald McDonald House’ on the grounds of the new Children's Hospital in Dublin.

Since 2004, Ronald McDonald House has provided accommodation and a caring and supportive environment for families whose children are seriously ill in hospital.

Victor Byrne of McDonalds in Letterkenny, explained that the service had helped almost 250 Donegal families to date, adding many more in the future will also be helped when they construct a new state-of-the-art 53 bedroom Ronald McDonald House.

Customers can now buy a brick for the new house. It's done by purchasing a €1 brick-styled sticker - you sign your name on and placing it on an image of the house displayed in their store. There are 500 stickers available in each store.

“The houses cater for the families of children in the hospital long-term. Now that the new national children's hospital is going to be built in 2021 and we have been part of the campaign to build a new house on the grounds. So its good we can play a part in helping families from all over the country,” he explained.

He added: “In total we have had around 3,035 families in the house. There have been 244 different families from Donegal alone staying there.”

That equates to over 71,000 bed nights. Over 79 families from Sligo and 29 families from Leitrim have also used the service since it began.

Victor says they are also looking forward to hosting their fundraising “happy day” in November. The Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation in two locations currently and planning permission has now been granted for the 53 bedroom house on the new hospital site. For more visit www.mcdonalds.i/rmhc or www.rmhc.ie