RONALD McDonald House at Orange, like many charities around the state, has found COVID-19 has seriously restricted its ability to raise the money it needs - and, in doing so, to keep its doors open to families using its services.
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Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families across the Central West and its operation depends on generous support from communities across the region.
On July 30, students and businesses across Bathurst are being asked to do one simple thing to help support the charity: wear red and make a gold coin donation to help it continue its amazing work.
Wear It Red Day, the brainchild of Denison College Bathurst High principal Ken Barwick, is now in its third year and is set to be one of the biggest mufti days on record as students from Bathurst and Kelso High join their counterparts in another 50 schools in the region in raising money for the charity.
With schools already involved, Mr Barwick is asking for businesses to also come on board and help raise much-needed funds.
Bathurst's Dave and Sarah Cox know the importance of Ronald McDonald House Orange.
They used the service when their twin boys were born five weeks early.
The Coxes stayed at Ronald McDonald House and were just a short walk away from their twin boys Wesley and Wyatt at Orange Hospital.
"They are a group of the most thoughtful, generous, caring and empathetic people we have ever met," Mr Cox said.
"We had the privilege of staying for nearly two weeks while our newborn twins were in the Special Care Nursery.
"Having the option to come and go from the hospital and not have a two-hour round trip to get there was an absolute lifesaver.
"Being greeted by smiling staff/volunteers who actually cared and asked how the boys were going each time we came and went made us feel so welcome and added just a little bit of normalcy to our lives as we were adjusting to our 'new normal'.
"The facility is second to none and despite the changes that COVID-19 has forced upon them, they have taken it in their stride, made the adjustments needed and still managed to keep a homely feel to it."
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The Coxes are one of 5784 families who have stayed at Ronald McDonald House Orange since it opened.
The Orange centre takes in families from 86 per cent of the state, which covers five health districts.
All services, including accommodation, are provided free of charge, which means Ronald McDonald House Orange relies heavily on fundraising activities throughout the year.
Executive officer Rebecca Walsh said she is very proud that all funds raised from events planned out of Ronald McDonald House Orange stay local to support families who come to stay at the house.
"Like many organisations, RMH Orange is facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with all major fundraising for 2020 involving large gatherings of people being cancelled," she said.
"But we are very encouraged that due to the initiative of the Denison College Campus, Wear Red Day will go ahead at the end of the month and is our first fundraiser for the year," Ms Walsh said.
Ms Walsh said she is very appreciative of principal Mr Barwick's huge efforts in helping promote Wear Red Day.
"Ken is so passionate about supporting Wear Red Day, which was an initiative of the school three years ago, and he has done a tremendous job spreading the word around schools in the region to become involved on July 30," she said.
Ms Walsh said she is also encouraging businesses and organisations to become involved.
"It just means wearing an item of red clothing on the day and donating a gold coin to Ronald McDonald House Orange," she said.