Christmas time is particularly hard for families as they are far from home and also dealing with the trauma of a seriously ill child. With hotels and other residential services closed due to COVID-19, the services of the Ronald McDonald House are more important than ever before, helping to ease the burdens on families of sick children who rely on accommodation close to hospital.

Having hosted more than 4,000 families since opening its doors in 2004, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provides a home-away-from-home for 20 families, who can rely on a clean and controlled environment to stay, close to their children who are undergoing treatment in Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin. This accommodation is especially important for families living outside of Dublin, who would be faced with the financial burden of finding accommodation in the city to stay close to their child.

The COVID-19 crisis has created especially challenging conditions for these families, who are now dealing with the additional anxieties of the pandemic while continuing to manage the impact of life-changing diagnoses within their family.

All families staying in the House are acutely aware of the importance of proper hygiene, having lived with the risks of infection for many years. Staying indoors, social distancing and being vigilant with sanitisation isn't new to these families, but any risk to their accommodation would be an unimaginable upheaval.

Hospitals have had to restrict visits to one parent, and the House provides a haven for families between visits. This service has been vital for families of children with long-term illnesses who cannot rely on the support network of extended family throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

However, like many other charities, the RMHC is experiencing unprecedented fundraising challenges and anticipates a 500,000 deficit for the year with several events having had to be cancelled, including the annual ball, cycle and donations through McDonalds outlets. Support is urgently needed to ensure that the charity can continue to provide accommodation to these families in their time of need.