Giant Big Mac to give sick kids a smile

A massive Big Mac made of foam is up for auction to help the Ronald McDonald House reach its $4.1 million funding target by McHappy Day on October 14.

Australian mother Jessica Turner says if it wasn't for Ronald McDonald House, the financial pressure would have forced her to sell their family home.

Ronald McDonald House has given the family a home while six-year-old daughter Eden was in the children's hospital located two hours from where they live in rural Western Australia.

Eden was born prematurely with scarring on her airways that has meant lengthy hospital stays, including six months in intensive care when she turned one.

During this time, her parents and three siblings have lived in Perth's Ronald McDonald House for a total of about nine months.

"It gives us a family environment," Turner told AAP.

"It's scary, overwhelming and confusing, and her life has been in the balance so many times so I wanted to make sure we stayed together."

The Turners are among thousands of families who the Ronald McDonald House has helped since they first opened their doors in 1981.

This year a 2.4 metre foam Big Mac will be auctioned on eBay to help reach McDonald's fundraising target of $4.1 million by McHappy Day on October 14.

All money raised will go towards giving families like the Turners a place to stay while their seriously ill child seeks treatment in a nearby hospital.

The Big Mac is a replica of the iconic burger, complete with buns, cheese, pickles, tomato sauce and even those Aussie beef patties.

Auctioneers will have until 8pm on McHappy Day to place a bid for Macca's massive burger.

An overnight stay in one of the 16 RMHC houses in Australia costs about $132, and the $4.1 million would provide at least 31,000 nights of accommodation.

Two dollars from every Big Mac will also go towards the charity's fundraising target.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world