Laura's Kilimanjaro Climb for Emilia

Those of you who know me know that I love a challenge. This year I am setting the biggest one yet. On 8th October I am heading off to climb Kilimajaro. I am doing this to raise much needed funds for the operation of Ronald McDonald House, a charity that is close to my heart. All money raised will go directly to the charity as I have funded the climb myself.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland: The Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation and support for 20 families every night who have seriously ill children in Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin , Dublin. We are also raising money for a new house at the new Childrens Hospital being built. 

So why Ronald Mcdonald House?

In December 2019, my niece Emilia underwent life saving open heart surgery for an interrupted aortic arch, an ASD and a VSD. She was seriously ill and we didn’t know what the outcome would be. As you can imagine this was a traumatic time for all the family, especially Emilia’s parents.

The Ronald McDonald House provided a home away from home for the time Emilia was in hospital. They took the everyday worries away and in a dark and scary time highlighted the kindness and generosity of people. Donations of time and resources such as a place to stay, nappies, clothes, coffee and people cooking hot meals meant parents could focus on caring for their sick child while still getting vital sleep and nourishment.

The Ronald McDonald house gives parents a safe place to share their experiences and comfort one another. Also, parents have a place to go, away from the hospital, to regroup in order to face difficult decisions and absorb information which may be alien to them.

Luckily, Emilia left hospital after three weeks. However, some parents spend years there, some will return many times and new parents will come and go. Unfortunately, there will always be a need for this service. The Ronald McDonald house relies on donations, so please give whatever you can, every little helps. I know how much it meant to Carolyn and Christopher not to have to worry about where to stay when Emilia was in hospital and I want to help ensure that no parent endures these worries when their child is seriously ill in hospital.

A personal message from Caroyln;

“I was totally unprepared and I couldn’t stop crying. I could hardly function and all I could think about was my baby girl. The kindness of others meant I didn’t have to worry about where to stay, what to eat or even forgetting my toothbrush. This had all been taken care of. We also had a place for our other children to visit, away from the hospital.

I will forever be thankful for the support and kindness we received during our time in the Ronald McDonald House. They looked after us while the surgeons were performing a miracle on our baby girl. I will never forget the people who came in to cook meals for complete strangers, either because they had once been in the same position or they just wanted to do something nice for someone else.

Even in your darkest times there is light in the kindness of others.”