Ahead of National Hug Day this Sunday, January 21st, Ronald McDonald House has launched an important 'send a hug' appeal.
The charity is asking people to send Barróg, a hug, to a loved one to provide aid to families of children with serious illnesses in hospital. All proceeds from sending a Barróg will go to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Along with this, anyone who sends a Barróg in time for National Hug Day will be entered into a competition to win a holiday worth €5,000.
The Ronald McDonald House Charity serves to provide care and support for families who have children in long term care at Crumlin, Ireland’s largest pediatric hospital. The Ronald McDonald House provides crucial accommodation for families in need, in order to stay close to their children during their stay in the hospital. For twenty years, it has housed over 5,000 families from across Ireland, and provides over 12,000 meals a year to families in need, facilitating an environment to unite families with their children.
Joe Kenny, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland, emphasised the important role of family, togetherness, and hugs in a child’s recovery process.
“The Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for 20 families with children in hospital every night. As you can imagine a lot of hugs happen under our roof. Sometimes they’re hugs of joy and celebration, other times they can be hugs of compassion and comfort, but always there’s hugs of hope for better days to come. Sending a Barróg hug in time for National Hug Day is a great way to get behind our families while letting someone special in your own life know that you’re thinking of them.”
Sophie's Story
This initiative is being launched in conjunction with baby Sophie Mulligan and her family from Athea, Co. Limerick. Sophie, born in August 2022, has spent every day as an inpatient in Crumlin Hospital. With the exception of a singular two day visit home, Sophie, with Melissa and Alan, her parents, have been living in the Ronald McDonald House.
Sophie left hospital on Tuesday the 16th of January for Limerick after a 513 day stay. Sophie and her family will be celebrating National Hug Day from their own home. Sophie’s mother Melissa said the following about the importance of Ronald McDonald House
“The Ronald McDonald House has been ‘home’ for our family since Sophie came into our lives in August 2022. It’s hard to describe how one House can mean so much to you, but when you are faced with over 500 days in a hospital that is 250km from home you soon come to realise the importance of a place like The Ronald McDonald House. The House allowed us to put all of our focus on Sophie and alleviated worries like; where we were going to stay each night, where our next meal was coming from, how were we going to afford this. The list goes on and on. Having a base that was only a few minutes from Sophie’s hospital bed provided us with a piece of mind that was priceless.
We couldn’t have gotten through the 513 days in hospital without the love and support we had from the staff and other families at the House. No two days are the same when you have a child in hospital and our Ronald McDonald House family were always there to celebrate the good days and comfort us through the bad.
Sophie being the face of National Hug Day this year feels like a real celebration. After such a long journey we’re finally going home and we get to share that joy across the nation through thousands of Barróg hugs and the chance to win a holiday.”
To participate in Ronald McDonald House’s appeal this National Hug Day, visit their website here. A Barróg gift set consists of a Barróg bunny, a personalised gift card and gift, and can be purchased for a special price of €10 ex p&p.
By sending a hug, you will be entered into a competition for the chance to win a holiday worth €5,000. The winner of the competition will be announced on Monday, the 22nd of January.
