A KIND-HEARTED couple has donated hundreds of toys as a special thank you to a charity organisation which housed them near their poorly new-born son.
Jacqueline Ashurst, from Denshaw, and her husband Pete, were given free accommodation at the Ronald McDonald House near Manchester Children’s Hospital while little Thomas underwent five operations in as many months.
Keen to show their gratitude, Jaqueline 27, organised a toy drive to collect toys and games for the House – and proudly delivered three vans full to the grateful team.
She said: “At my 20 week scan I was told there was a birth defect as Thomas’sbowels were outside of his body. We were prepared – but on the understanding he would only need one operation.
“He was born at 37 weeks and ended up having five operations to get him right. He developed a bowel disease which made operating a bit more complicated too.
“For a bit, it looked really grim and we didn’t know what the outcome was going to bebut he’s doing really well and is fighting fit now.
“We lived at the Ronald McDonald house to be close to him and just wanted to do something to show our gratitude to them.
“We have a three-year-old daughter Leah and not being able to see her was heart-breaking so we decided to do the toy drive to help other families and children in the same situation.”
After advertising the toy drive on Facebook and through friends, donations came flooding in and included 4×4 remote control cars, dolls houses, games and teddies.
And Jacqueline admitted she was overwhelmed and delighted with the response and gifts she received to pass onto the charity.
“It was incredible,” she said. “People I had never met before know turned up with toys to donate.
“It took three vans to get everything down there and they have to put some of the toys in storage as we gave them so much.”
Jacqueline is now planning a Saddleworth Mile charity walk for the summer and hopes families will get involved in fancy dress. Look out for more details closer to the time.
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation at hospitals across the country so families can stay close to their child and maintain a degree of normal family life. For more information visitwww.rmhc.org.uk
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