Schools and businesses from around the Central West joined in the spirit of ‘Wear Red Day’ for Ronald Mcdonald House Charities last Thursday.

Calare Public School enjoyed the opportunity to support a local charity and get creative with their ‘red-wear’, we saw KFC bucket hats, red tutus, red moustaches and more!

A gold coin donation was collected on the day, to raise much needed funds to support families from this region.

“We are absolutely thrilled that so many got behind Wear Red Day this year. All funds raised will remain in Orange to directly support families from the Central and Far West,” said executive officer Rebecca Walsh.

“It is a classic case of country people looking after their friends, neighbours, school mates and work colleagues who may find themselves in a situation where they may need to seek specialist medical care for a child at Orange Hospital.”

Wear Red Day began four years ago in the central west as an initiative of the Principal of Denison College in Bathurst Ken Barwick, and has grown from a small event to now become a major fundraiser on the Ronald McDonald House Charities Orange calendar.

“We simply could not do the work we do supporting families without the generous donations from the public on Wear Red Day,” Rebecca said.

Ronald McDonald House in Orange is a modern eight-unit facility which sleeps families of up to six people in rooms with ensuites and laundry facilities.

Rebecca explained, “This provides so much flexibility for families who may travel to be together at weekends at a time when one or the other parent travels back home through the week to work and care for other family members at home.

“And all the time they are just a short walk from the hospital where their baby, child or adolescent is receiving the very best specialist medical care.”

The house in Orange operates with two paid employees – an executive officer and house manager, supplemented by a dedicated band of around 100 volunteers from Orange who are part of a 24/7, 365 day a year roster. They carry out a range of tasks including cleaning and housekeeping, administration, outdoor maintenance, meal preparation and fundraising.

“Our volunteers are the heart of the house and the feedback we receive from families just lets us know how truly valued they are,” said Rebecca.

Since Ronald McDonald House Charities opened in Orange almost five years ago, 838 families from the central and far west have come to stay at the house for just a few days or up to months at a time.

This equates to 6,796 nights of accommodation provided at no cost to families, along with a range of other services which include emergency meals, complimentary breakfasts, groceries for self-catering, complimentary toiletries and gift bags of new toys, books and activities for the baby, child or adolescent in hospital.

Latest data compiled at the house in Orange shows that more than half of the accommodation nights so far provided to families has been in a time of crisis when children or young people come to Orange for specialist and often lifesaving treatment in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at Orange Hospital. Families come to Orange from a wide area of the state, as this is the only specialist unit of its type outside of Sydney.

Well done to all involved.