RONALD McDONALD HOUSE

Last year the Nelligan family from Cummins faced some difficulties. Their daughter, Maddie, was very sick and required a kidney transplant. Being from the country and not having any accommodation close to the city they were eligible to stay at a place in Melbourne Street called Ronald McDonald House. I had heard about this place before but had never been there. It is a charitable house that has 10 rooms for different families to stay, with a big shared kitchen and recreation areas. It relies on sponsorship (in particular by McDonald’s) to survive and it gives free accommodation to families from outside the Metropolitan area who have seriously ill children in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

I visited the Nelligan’s to take young Henry Nelligan for a kick of the footy and give his mum a break. Whilst there I got the chance to look around the house, speak to the volunteers that worked there and it gave me an idea to get the players at the Club involved in giving of themselves for others.

What we do now is that on a Thursday before an ABC televised game, a group of around eight players go into Ronald McDonald House. We meet there at 5.30pm and go and visit any children who are too sick to leave the hospital. We try and cheer them up and we give out posters, stickers and any promotional material that the Club can supply!

Afterwards we stroll back to the House and cook a hearty meal for the families. This consists of fresh tasty meat from Seaton Park Meat Store, flame grilled and served with a side of delicious salad. The boys cook the BBQ and serve up the meal for the families who enjoy a break from the grind of having to cook for everyone after a long and often draining day in hospital.

Players also sit and eat with the families and discuss many different topics that they might not always get a chance to talk about in the change rooms! The families enjoy having company and someone else to talk to. They also enjoy the boys entertaining their children giving them a lesson in pool, cards, Playstation and pillow fights! Visiting the house before a televised game allows the families to sit back and watch the same players in action on TV on the weekend. Once again hopefully giving them a bit of a buzz and allowing them to set their mind away from their current challenges that they are facing.

It is intended that every player will visit Ronald McDonald House before the end of the season and try and bring a bit of joy to someone else’s life.