McHappy Day will this year be celebrated on Saturday 17th October and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is encouraging Geraldton residents to help to raise a record breaking $3.4 million by purchasing a $1 Helping Hand or a pair of Ronald Socks for $3 from their local McDonald’s restaurant.

The Helping Hand is a key fundraising item for McHappy Day, with an impressive 805,000 Helping Hands sold across Australia for McHappy Day in 2014. This year for the first time Ronald Socks have also been added to the mix and are a fun way for Geraldton residents to show their support for RMHC.

“McHappy Day is the biggest fundraising event for RMHC and Helping Hands are a symbol of how RMHC programs are able to continue to provide much needed services and programs for families with children going through a serious illness. It really is through the help of individuals who extend their hand, either through donations or volunteer work, that has made RMHC what is it today,” said Mike Hanlon, licensee McDonald’s Geraldton and McDonald's Geraldton Homemaker Centre.

“For those people really looking to show off their support our Ronald Socks are the perfect addition to your McHappy Day outfit! My Crew and I will be sporting some socks and we encourage the community to join us for the day,” added Mike.

Corporate Helping Hands will also be available for businesses to purchase in $10 and $50 increments. Geraldton businesses will be able to post a Helping Hand in their local restaurant and will also receive another to display in their office.

“A $10 donation means that the Ronald McDonald Learning Program can purchase books and reading apps to engage with and help students catch up on missed school work while they were sick. $50 can provide a set of bedding for overnight rooms in the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms or a welcome pack for families arriving at a Ronald McDonald House for the first time; often with none of the essentials like toiletries,” added Mike.

The power of family closeness is a driving factor in the work of RMHC and this year’s fundraising goal equates to providing around 27,000 nights for Australian families at one of the 16 Ronald McDonald Houses across Australia.

Geraldton residents will be able to show their support for RMHC by buying, signing and displaying a Helping Hand at their local restaurant for just $1 or picking up a pair of Ronald Socks for $3 from Thursday 1st October, up until McHappy Day on Saturday 17th October.

In addition to Helping Hands, people can get behind McHappy Day by simply dropping in to one of over 980 McDonald’s restaurants across Australia on Saturday 17th October to make a donation to RMHC or by buying a Big Mac ($2 from every Big Mac will go to RMHC).

Donations can also be made via www.rmhc.org.au/mchappyday