The first elected Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, visited the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham, to meet the families of seriously ill children staying at the ‘home away from home’ accommodation.
In 2017, over 1,000 families stayed at the House, free of charge, while their children were being treated in nearby Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Mr Street met current residents and the team at the Ronald McDonald House, who work around the clock 365 days a year to provide vital accommodation for the families.
The Mayor said: “It was great to see the fantastic work done by the brilliant volunteers and fundraisers at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. They give a first class welcome to the West Midlands to all the families that use the House every day of the year.”
Doug Wright, Chair of the Board of Governors at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham said: “We are delighted that the Mayor has taken the time to visit us so he could see the great work and passion of the team here at the House. The House is heavily funded by donations from the community, from kids raising a few pounds for their sponsored PJ Day at school, to large corporate donations. This House is vitally important and gives all our families the peace of mind they need.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides free accommodation to families of children receiving treatment at specialist Children’s Hospitals across the UK. The 14 Houses across the UK offer somewhere for families to cook their own meals, sleep in their own ensuite bedrooms, and to get valuable respite whilst being able to remain close to their children who are being treated in specialist hospitals.
