Young footballers in Ramsgate FC under 11’s teams have helped to raise a brilliant £500 for the Ronald McDonald Evelina London House.
Between them, the 20+ players in the Under 11 Stars and Yellow team walked 78 miles – the distance from the Rams FC stadium at Southwood to the Ronald McDonald Evelina House in London- as well as helping collect items for fundraising boot fairs.
The effort was led by head coach Dan Barham, wife Jodie Barham and sons Kian, 10, and Layton aged nine.
Jodie, who is a teacher, said the fundraiser was a way of giving back after she stayed at the Evelina House when Kian was blue-lighted to hospital as a baby in 2016.
The 33-year-old said: “I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House twice that year. Kian was really unwell and had a multitude of seizures.
“It is a neurology issue and he was blue-lighted a few times and admitted to PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit). He has had surgery and is under the care of Evelina was check ups and meds but is doing really well now.
“We are desperate to give back. When you are transferred to London as a parent in an emergency, the Ronald McDonald House is like a home from home. They give you three meals and everything you need but obviously you arrive without anything – which is why we are doing a toiletries drive next.
“They really put cotton wool around you and protect you during what is a traumatic experience to go through. It’s something I never thought I would need.”
The under 11’s teams, one of which is sponsored by McDonalds at Westwood, completed the final mile of the walking challenging on Friday with Layton and footie mad Kian – who plays in goal- among the group.
Jodie said: “There are around 22-23 of them, all due to go into Year 6, and they collected items for the boot fairs and did the walks, they have smashed it.”
To help celebrate the achievement McDonalds at Westwood held a party for the youngsters on Friday.
Before that Jodie, her sister Zoe and Kian travelled to London to visit the Ronald McDonald house at the Evelina and say thank you to the team.
Jodie said: “My sister came as you need your family, it’s still quite traumatic. You do also get a family at the Ronald McDonald House because every parent there is in the same position as you.
“After everything he has been through, Kian is very resilient and his brother is very resilient too because he has had to experience Kian going to hospital.
“Hopefully we will never need the house again but can continue to give back to them.”
Ronald McDonald Houses provide free “home away from home” accommodation and support services for families with children receiving treatment at nearby specialist hospitals. There are 14 houses across the UK and over 7,100 worldwide.
Rooms are provided at zero cost for as long as the child remains in the hospital and facilities include shared kitchens, laundry rooms, play areas, and quiet lounges.
Ronald McDonald House Evelina London is a purpose-built 59 bedroom property at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
