Dannevirke: Firing up for street collection

Dannevirke fire chief Peter Sinclair is helping Dannevirke mum Rebecca (Bec) Adie with the Ronald McDonald House appeal tomorrow by running the fire engine down High St at noon. Photo / Christine McKay

For Dannevirke mum Rebecca (Bec) Adie, Wellington's Ronald McDonald House has a special place in her heart and tomorrow she will be out raising money during the annual street appeal.

And Dannevirke Volunteer Fire Brigade is stepping in to help by running a fire engine down High St to alert people to the collection.

"We're very happy to do this for the cause," fire chief Peter Sinclair said.

Helping with the street appeal isn't all the grateful Adie family have done for Wellington's Ronald McDonald House. As house ambassadors they've returned to Wellington a number of times to cook for families there " to return the support they received.

Rebecca and Hamish Adie were relieved to be able to stay at Ronald McDonald House when their second son Daniel, then aged 9, was diagnosed with six large kidney stones.

Taken to hospital to have the obstruction removed, doctors discovered there were more than 50 kidney stones. A few weeks later Daniel became very unwell and, after a scan at Palmerston North Hospital, doctors decided he needed to be helicoptered to Wellington's Children's Hospital for emergency surgery as a single, remaining stone had ruptured an internal suture line.

While the doctors in Wellington were on standby for Daniel's surgery, Ronald McDonald House was waiting for the Adie family.

"It became our saviour," Rebecca said.

After arriving in Wellington and 17 hours without food, the Adie's found meals had been put aside for them at the house.

"They helped our little family in so many ways when we needed it the most," Rebecca said. "Ronald McDonald House allowed us to remain together, provided us with a comfy place to sleep and, most importantly, we could be close to Daniel."

After some time in hospital Daniel was released to Ronald McDonald House, enabling him to stay with his family while remaining close to the hospital.

"There are so many reasons why Ronald McDonald House in Wellington will always be so special to us and I will never forget what they have done for our family," Rebecca said.

On New Year's Eve last year the Adie family commemorated the one-year anniversary of their time at Ronald McDonald House by travelling to Wellington to cook up a storm for the families there. The meal included ham, chicken, roast potatoes, pasta and Daniel's favourite, chocolate brownie and ice cream. It was a symbolic gesture from the grateful family and an extremely kind gesture for those still going through their own medical journey.

The family has been back twice to cook for people in the house.

"We're so lucky a voluntary organisation like the Dannevirke Fire Brigade are prepared to help us help this charity which has given so much support to our family," Rebecca said.

Why support Wellington's Ronald McDonald House?

Most people staying at the house live more than 100 kilometres from Wellington. Most are from the Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Nelson.

The house helps to keep families from all walks of life together when it matters most when they have a seriously ill child, 21 years and under, receiving treatment at Wellington Hospital.

Money raised helps keeps the new Ronald McDonald House Wellington open, allowing 34
families to stay at one time.

- If you want to find out other ways you and your family can get involved with the House contact Anthony on anthonyb@rmhw.org.nz or 04 389 5505