Bedford’s McDonald’s team took part in a charity cycle to Amsterdam to try and raise £50,000 for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH).

The house at Oxford offers accommodation to parents of seriously ill children from across the region who are being treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Since opening in 2007, 5,000 families have made use of the house.

Said McDonald’s franchise owner Ismail Animis: “Imagine your child has to go into hospital for treatment and you find yourself miles from your home in a strange city. Do you drive backwards and forwards every day, or check into a local hotel? All you want, or need to do is stay by your child’s side. RMHC can offer a little comfort and a safe place for you and your family.”

Ismail, as I&A Restaurants, franchisees ten McDonald’s restaurants in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. His total team are endeavouring to raise £50,000 throughout 2016 following the  success of a similar appeal last year.

The ‘Charity Bike Ride’ left from the Ronald McDonald House in Oxford on July 9th to Amsterdam via the Ronald McDonald House Leiden in Holland, a distance of just over 300 miles. 

RMH Oxford opened in 2007 and has 18 en-suite bedrooms, two kitchens, a laundry room and communal lounges so far it has accommodated over 5,000 families. The children have varied conditions, many have come in for craniofacial surgery, heart surgery, some need neurosurgery and many are in hospital as a result of a serious accident, so their stay ranges from just a couple of days to many months. The development of the House was fully funded by RMHC, however it needs to raise £250,000 each year to meet the annual running costs.

Go on this link below and make a donation  https://www.justgiving.com/oxfordtoholland2016

McDonald’s Bedford Business Manager Zap Hussain is a volunteer member of the BedfordBID board which promotes the town centre under the Love Bedford brand. I&A Restaurants have newly refurbished McDonald’s on the High Street and at “Aspects”.

Ismail centre right shaking hands to celebrate the success of the 2015 event.