McHappy Day in Yellowknife has been supporting a cause close to the hearts of Northerners for more than three decades now.
Alex Bornilla, who is the manager of the Yellowknife McDonald’s said the local franchise has been doing this for 32 years now and each year they raise about $10,000 to $12,000. That’s upwards of $320,000 over the years.
On McHappy Day on May 6 this year, a portion of proceeds on food item sales is going to families with critically sick and injured children, helping to keep loved ones together with children as they received care in hospital.
The restaurant is also holding a raffle with hot items like an indoor barbeque, a mountain bike and other goodies from local business sponsors with proceeds going towards the cause.
With families in the N.W.T. often having to travel to Alta for medical care, it’s a cause close to the hearts of many people living in the far North.
“It’s awesome what they’re doing,” said Cheryl who was at McDonald’s with her husband Jim on Wednesday.
“I like this, that they are raising money for children and their families,” added Jim, who explained their daughter was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia when she was 3 years old.
More than twenty years ago the couple had to travel to Edmonton with their daughter for treatment there. While they were offered a spot at the Ronald McDonald house, the couple chose to make alternative arrangements, but were grateful to have options.
Jim said his daughter was in isolation at the hospital for six months in 2005. The family stayed by her side there while she was treated at the Alta. hospital for one year.
It was a very tough time, but the family were able to stay together.
“It helped my daughter and the family a lot to be able to be together and take care of her while she was in the hospital.”
Cheryl and Jim’s daughter was able to recover and twenty plus years later their family is still together and rooting for their daughter, still going strong.
“She’s doing good now, she has two children,” beamed Cheryl.
That’s the whole idea behind Ronald McDonald House, said Bornilla.
“Every year we raise money for families for Ronald McDonald’s house, so children [going through medical treatment] can be with their family.”
Bornilla added that throughout the year, the restaurant supports kids in care and their families with proceeds from Mchappy meal sales going to the cause.
