By Kyra Gillespie
Excitement was in the air as Pakenham McDonald’s opened up its doors on Saturday 14 October to celebrate McHappy Day.
The Pakenham staff and crew were well prepared for the big event, with lots of fun activities planned throughout the day.
The festivities included a large raffle with Richmond Football Club memorabilia and a 10-kilogram block of Cadbury chocolate amid the prize pool, games for the kids, professional face painting, bowling in the car park, temporary tattooing, a bean bag toss, and lots more.
The entire store was decorated with a jungle theme to get into the tigers spirit.
“It’s always such a fun day,” McDonald’s manager Sarah Kelly said.
“We raised a total of $10,227 in total and $3052 from fundraising on the day.
“For every Big Mac sold we will donate $2 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and all the money made from the games and raffles will go towards it too.
“Our total for last year was $8278.80, so it’s great to have beaten our record.”
McHappy Day is one of the largest national fundraisers, which raised over $3.95 million to support families of seriously ill children.
The cornerstone program of the Ronald McDonald House provides a ‘home away from home’ for families of sick children being treated at nearby hospitals.
In 1981 the first Australian Ronald McDonald House opened in Sydney’s Camperdown.
There are now 16 Ronald McDonald Houses in Australia and more than 360 houses worldwide
