Influenced by the care and kindness shown by the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in London, a Chatham-Kent family is organizing an event to give back.
Tiffany Cunningham and her family will host their third Cocktails and Candycanes event on December 17 to support RMH and the work it does to help families with seriously ill children.
Tiffany and her husband Wes were one such family who found themselves at RMH after their daughter Ella was born prematurely at 29 weeks.
“Following Ella’s birth, we were fortunate to call Ronald McDonald House London our home for the 71 days she spent in the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit],” Tiffany said in a news release. “We were so grateful for our stay there as it allowed us to be close to Ella while she fought her fight, and we were also able to connect with many other families, all going through challenging situations.”
Overwhelmed by the support from Ronald McDonald House London, Tiffany said she knew she had to find a way to give back and decided to host the evening event to raise money.
“I started planning the [first] event during Ella’s stay in the NICU, and we hosted our inaugural Cocktails and Candycanes event the day she was able to come home, making it even more special,” she said.
In 2018, the event raised $10,000 for the RMH and in 2019, more than $14,000 was raised. The Cunningham family is hoping to raise even more money this year with a fundraising goal of $15,000.
This year’s Cocktails and Candycanes event will be held at the Everest Convention Centre (formerly Club Lentinas) and will feature a happy hour including appetizers and cocktails, a four-course meal, a DJ and dancing, a photo booth and pictures with Santa.
A portion of the ticket sales will go directly to Ronald McDonald House and 100 per cent of the donations for the event’s live and silent auctions will be donated, as well.
To purchase tickets or donate an auction prize, email cocktailsandcandycanes2022@gmail.com.
