Kind-hearted Kayleigh looks to comedy for Ronald McDonald House charity cash boost

Kind-hearted McDonald’s worker Kayleigh Phillips has turned comedy showcase promoter in her latest bid to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Kayleigh, shift manager at McDonald’s in Cross Hands, is helping stage the Phil Evans and Friends Stand-Up Comedy Showcase at Tumble Workingmen’s Club on Saturday, October 22.

“So far this year we have raised £4000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities,” said Kayleigh.

“And now we hope that people can have some fun helping to raise more money at our Phil Evans Comedy Showcase.

“The aim of the fundraising is to complete the first ever Ronald McDonald House in Wales.

“It will provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families who have children being treated at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital and the neo-natal intensive care unit at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

“It’s a really deserving cause and we hope the people of Cross Hands, Tumble and all of West Wales get behind it.”

Comedian Phil Evans – a columnist for the South Wales Evening Post – said he was excited to be bringing his team of ‘Friends’ to Tumble for the comedy gig.

“We can promise laughs galore – and, along the way, the audience will be raising cash for a great cause. It’s a no-brainer really – a fun night out which supports a popular charitable cause.

“I take my hat off to Kayleigh Phillips for helping to organise it. She is a human dynamo and a real local hero for the hard work she puts into charity fundraising.

“I just love being around people who have the ability to get things done. They are the true ‘doers’ of the world. Kayleigh is bubbly and enthusiastic with a great passion for the McDonald’s charities fund.”

Kayleigh, who lives in Cwmgwili near Cross Hands, explained that she helped raise more than £3000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities, RMHC, last year.

She added: “I work at Cross Hands McDonald’s and have been put in charge of the fundraising in our store for the RMHC. I also know quite a few people who have used the RMHC while their children were in hospital.

“Three of them are friends of mine so the charity helped them immensely during a very difficult time. One little boy, Harri, had to have open heart surgery when he was just eight days old and, as it was over the Christmas period, without the RMHC he would have spent Christmas without his family. It is an amazing charity and is close to my heart.

“We have raised more than £4,000 already this year. We have done events such as paintballing, laser tag, karaoke night, hypnotist night, skydive, baked bean challenge, football tournaments and later this year we have the world’s highest mobile bungee jump event.

“Going to a hospital far from home can be a frightening experience for a child; it’s important that they have their families close by for love and comfort. Ronald McDonald House Cardiff will provide free accommodation for these families, somewhere they can call home when they’re miles from their own front door. It offers support and a safe environment where families can share their experiences with others in similar situations.

“We’re still raising money to complete the project, furnish and equip the interior and secure vital first year running costs of the house. The house will have 30 en suite bedrooms as well as kitchens, lounges, playroom areas, and laundry facilities. It is costing more than £5.5 million to construct. It will cost us £25 per night to accommodate one family . . . so every penny counts!

“The children’s hospital expects to provide specialist medical care for up to 100,000 children each year. The existing hospital accommodation is not able to accommodate every family member who needs to stay close to their sick child. Once fully open, the Ronald McDonald House will be able to support 30 families each night of the year, completely free of charge.

“Ronald McDonald Houses could save a family with a sick child as much as £282 per week in unexpected, extra costs, such as travel, eating out and hotel bills.”

Phil Barry, directorate manager for Child Health at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, said : “The health board welcomes the opportunity to work with Ronald McDonald House Charities who have significant experience providing support to parents and families in a number of other children’s hospitals across the UK. We hope that through this collaboration we will be able to provide improved care and help to families when they are supporting children being treated at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales.”

The Phil Evans and Friends Stand-Up Comedy Shopwcase will be at Tumble Workingmen’s Club from 7.30pm on Saturday, October 22. Tickets are £20 (buffet included). Ring 07812067965

Phil Evans website – www.philevans.co.uk