The charity has been supporting Territorians for 25 years and is now exploring opportunities to increase support, possibly by opening a house in Alice Springs.

The goal is to build a fit-for-purpose house for the unique needs near the town’s busy 200-bed hospital so that families can stay near their sick children.

Each year about 30 percent of the families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities property in Adelaide – often for prolonged periods – are from the Territory.

To engage with the community and to raise funds for the Alice Springs project, Ronald McDonald House South & Central Australia is hosting a gala ball under the stars at the Old Quarry on August 30.

Tickets are now sale for – $275 per person or $2500 for a table of 10 – and can bought on the events page at safundraising.rmhc.org.au/event/ alicespringsgala25 or through the QR code in the image below.

Ronald McDonald House Charities South & Central Australia Chief Executive Officer Melissa Monkhouse says: “We recognise the unique challenges faced by families in remote areas, and we’re dedicated to finding the most effective way to provide support in Alice Springs. This may take many different forms, and we want to explore all of them.

“Our priority right now is simply to listen and learn. We want to work closely with local healthcare providers, community leaders and families to determine how we can make the most meaningful impact.”

Last year, Ronald McDonald House Charities Adelaide House supported about 2500 families through multiple programs, including the Hospitality Cart, tutoring and education, plus on- site family and accommodation support.

Ronald McDonald House Charities was founded in the United States by Dr Audrey Evans 50 years ago and now operates more than 258 houses across 60 countries.

The oncologist bought the first house because she realised many families were not taking their children for treatment because they could not afford to stay away from home.

A movie about her life, Audrey’s Children, is expected to screen in Australia soon.

At a Ronald McDonald House Charities, families can be together, enjoy home-cooked meals and receive compassionate hospitality and support from staff and volunteers — all near the child’s hospital.

The charity ensures that when the best medical treatment for a child is far from home families don’t have to worry about where to stay and that helps families physically, economically and emotionally along their child’s healthcare journey.

Research shows that patients whose families stayed at the Ronald McDonald House Charities are the sickest, travelled the farthest distances and spent the longest time in the hospital.

When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, it can have a devastating impact on families. As well as the uncertainty and fear, there’s added stress for families who don’t live close to the medical care their child needs.

Each house is operated by a local Ronald McDonald House Charities chapter, which is governed by a local board of directors who are responsible for program development and operations.

This enables flexibility to adapt and create the home and caring environment needed for different areas and communities.

“This is exactly what we want to create for Alice Springs,” says Ms Monkhouse.

Most of the charity’s funding comes from individuals, organisations and businesses – 78 percent of the funding to create a “home away from homes” comes from fundraising, donations, corporate partnerships, events and the community.

The cost to house a family for one night is $160. Families have an average stay of 34 nights but it can be anywhere from two nights up to 200, depending on the needs and complexity of the children.

The charity does what it can to ensure that no family is turned away.

To donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities South & Central Australia, visit rmhcsa.org.au or join the Alice Springs Gala Ball where you can enjoy a night under the stars, hear more about the expansion plans and help keep families together. TQ