On the last weekend in October, executive General Manager GIANTS Netball, Tim Underwood participated in the Ronald McDonald House – CEO Walk in My Shoes.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney (RMHCGWS) have been a charity partner of the GIANTS for the past three years.
The CEO Walk in My Shoes is an overnight immersive experience held at the house in Westmead, in Sydney’s West.
It’s an experience where executives gain a first-hand insight into what parents and carers of seriously ill children endure on a daily basis and provide an overview of what it takes for RMHCGWS to create the best possible experience for families in their care.
The 24-hour experience involved preparing dinner and breakfast for the families, spending time talking with and hearing from friend of the GIANTS Molly Croft, walking through various real life scenarios families will encounter during their stay and a visit to the hospital school.
For Mr Underwood, who is a father to two girls, he entered the experience with an expectation that it could be the quite the emotional rollercoaster.
"It certainly was – it was an inspirational and humbling experience,” Mr Underwood said.
“For families, particularly those from regional and remote areas to have a facility that helps keep their family together is priceless.
“The house itself is an amazing facility and its proximity to the Children’s hospital means ot is genuinely saving lives when every minute counts.
“When we talk about being part of something greater, what we do as a club to help these families and RMHC is exactly what we mean.”
While Molly Croft is a familiar face within the GIANTS family, Mr Underwood said he was reminded once again of the inspirational and resilient young woman that she’s grown to become.
Molly is the co-founder of the TieDye Project – alongside former GIANT Amy Parmenter – a charity working to fight sarcoma.
The now 17-year-old was a speaker at the October event, sharing her and her families experience at Ronald McDonald House at Westmead, having spent over 600 nights there in her fight against osetosarcoma.
Over 1,500 families with seriously ill and injured children are supported by RMHCGWS every year at a cost to the charity of approximately $160 per family/night.
The 12 October participants have currently raised over $60,000 through CEO Walk in My Shoes, which equates to the cost of supporting one family for a little over 12 months.
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