Canberra Raiders Halfback Jamal Fogarty has been announced as an Ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Canberra.
Ronald McDonald House Canberra provides accommodation for families with seriously ill children. They are equipped with 10 rooms, shared kitchen, dining and laundry facilities and a family room in the paediatric ward at Canberra Centenary Hospital for women and children.
Fogarty, who signed with the Raiders at the start of this year, brings experience as a youth worker to the role. While he acknowledges youth work and what he will perform within the Ronald McDonald house is different, he believes the fundamentals are the same.
After recently touring the house, he found the experience eye opening and said he’d be looking to make his own impact on the role.
“If I can bring my personality into this space and show people that I care, and that I’m not just an NRL player. We’re all human and we’re all the same, just get to know them on a personal level,” Fogarty said.
Michelle McCormack, Executive Officer from Ronald McDonald House ACT and Southeast NSW, outlined the importance and significance of Fogarty as an ambassador.
“It gives us an opportunity to not only work with the Raiders but also in the community more broadly,” McCormack said.
In the last 10 years the house has supported over 3600 families.
“None of that could be done without the support that we receive from our volunteers, businesses, community groups and corporate partners who support us on a day in day out basis,” she said. “A great example of that is Canberra Milk, they support us with milk for the families that are staying in the house or using the family room.”
As well as financial contributions Ronald McDonald House Canberra is always seeking help stocking its shared pantry with non-perishable food items as well as those special items like toys which can bring smiles to children’s faces at important times of the year like Christmas.
For Fogarty, those smiles are reward enough for the time put in.
“It definitely makes a difference to see parents in here smiling. Even though you might not have a personal connection with them, it definitely makes a difference,” he said. “We need to be raised within our community and help out one another. We can’t rely on the same independent sponsors or the same people every year to dig their hands in their pockets. As a community we definitely have to play our part.
For more information on Ronald McDonald House Canberra, visit www.rmhcact.org.au
