Case studies

Boy of seven helps raise money for Camberwell House where he stayed

Sam Rowlands was just six when his sister Alice was born with a rare liver condition. When Alice was rushed from Norfolk to King’s College, London - 120 miles away - for treatment, Sam moved in to the Ronald McDonald House next door with mum and dad, Miranda and Paul.

“It was great that we were all able to stay together and visit Alice whenever we wanted,” says Sam. “There were toys and other children for me to play with too, which was fun.”

Sadly Alice died the day before Sam’s seventh birthday. She was 15 days old. Sam sold some of his toys and wrote to celebrities asking them for items to auction – helping raise over £41,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities and in recognition of this a room in the Camberwell House is named after Alice. “I think she would have liked that,” says Sam.