RMHC - Supporting National Family Week

National Family Week is a new national occasion running from 25th-31st May 2009 which aims to celebrate family life through various initiatives involving play, learning, eating, reading, competitions and - most importantly of all - bringing families together.

With sponsors, schools, community organisations, government bodies, charities, local councils, sports clubs, associations, celebrities and even the Prime Minister behind the week, the only thing missing is your family! Families like yours all across the country can enjoy hundreds of events and competitions, offers and promotions to make National Family Week fantastic fun for the whole family. Family is something we all have in common. Regardless of age or stage, shape or size, belief or background, National Family Week promises something for everyone!

For more information on National Family Week see here.

National Family Week's "Family of the Year" Competition

One of the families that has been helped by RMHC has been shortlisted in the final four of the "Family of the Year" competition! Read on to find out why RMHC nominated the Rowlands family....

The Rowlands Family

In September 2007 Miranda gave birth to Alice, who sadly suffered from a very rare liver condition that led to acute liver failure and meant she needed transferring to the liver unit at King's College Hospital, London. Miranda, Paul and Sam travelled down from Norwich to be at Alice's bedside, but were shocked to find there was nowhere for them to stay near to the hospital. After three days of staying several miles across town with friends, they were offered a room at the Ronald McDonald House next to the hospital, where they stayed until Alice passed away less than two weeks later.

Such was the family's collective gratitude for the precious chance to spend as much time as possible with Alice in her final days that after her death they set up a JustGiving site to give back to the Charity by way of a thank you. Once they had begun, their extraordinary enthusiasm for the cause spurred them on to set up the Alice Rowlands Memorial Society, the sole aim of which was to raise money for RMHC in their daughter's memory. In July 2008 ARMS held its first gala dinner, raising over £15,000. The second ARMS Gala Dinner will be held in July 2009. To date, the family have raised over £25,000 for the Charity – money that has gone towards helping other families who have gone through similar experiences to their own. As well as organising the next dinner they are now campaigning for a Ronald McDonald House to be built in Norwich. Their overwhelming support has made a huge impact on the Charity, covering the running costs of a Ronald McDonald House for over three months, helping many other families like their own.

For more information on the National Family Week Family of the Year Competition click here