Little Athletics NSW announce partnership with Ronald McDonald House Westmead

Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney and Little Athletics New South Wales have joined forces in a 3 year partnership to raise funds to support seriously ill children and their families.

To officially launch the partnership, Australian Olympic hurdler Michelle Jenneke, Olympic steeplechaser Youcef Abdi and marathon runner Celia Sullohern led a Little Athletics clinic for children staying at Ronald McDonald House Westmead, the 60-room House run by Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney (RMHC GWS).

“We’re so proud to be partnering with Little Athletics NSW,” said RMHC GWS Chief Executive Officer, Belinda Woolford.

“Part of their philosophy is to make sure Little Athletics has a positive impact on the whole family. And for us, keeping families close is the heart of what we do, by giving families a chance to stay close to their seriously ill child when they need vital hospital treatment.”

“For some of the children staying in Ronald McDonald House Westmead, including siblings, physical activity can also help them deal with the challenges they and their family are facing.”

“The funds raised at Little Athletics events will help keep the doors open at Ronald McDonald House Westmead so those families have a safe, warm and welcoming place to stay when they need it.”

The partnership will see Little Athletics NSW host fundraising initiatives at a number of athletic meets over the next 3 years. On November 17 and 18, young athletes and their families from Parramatta, Holroyd, North Rocks, Carlingford, Hills District and Girraween Little Athletics Centres donned custom novelty socks to fundraise for the charity, raising over $5,000.

Little Athletics NSW CEO Kerry O’Keefe emphasized the important role that families play at Little Athletics, “Ronald McDonald House promotes themselves as keeping families close and Little Athletics NSW sees itself that way as well.  We run under the tagline of Family, Fun and Fitness, with family being the first word so there were real synergies there that we thought were appropriate”.

“It’s really important to me that I get to share my love of athletics, because it’s brought me a lot of joy over the last 15 years,” said Michelle Jenneke.

“Just seeing how all the kids [staying at Ronald McDonald House Westmead] have  interacted with it, and have had a really great time, it’s also fantastic that Little Athletics NSW has partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities GWS.”

Little Athletics NSW events are adapted to suit children up to 16 years old, with the aim of integrating the entire family, creating communication and bonds between parent and child.

RMHC GWS supports seriously ill children and their families across through Ronald McDonald House Westmead, adjacent to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room Nepean, located on site at the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Nepean Hospital.

Each year, the 60-room Ronald McDonald House Westmead accommodates 1,360 families with a seriously ill child. Without Ronald McDonald House Westmead, families would face the almost impossible choice between sleeping in their cars, at their child’s bedside or in hospital corridors, or trying to find the means to pay for expensive motel or hotel rooms without knowing how long treatment might take.

Click through to see highlights from the official launch at Ronald McDonald House Westmead

Click through to download a VNR including vision and interviews from Michelle Jenneke’s visit to Ronald McDonald House Westmead

Click through to find out more about Ronald McDonald House Westmead