Cooking up some very special Christmas cheer

A very special occasion warrants a very special meal and that’s exactly what was served up at Ronald McDonald House in Auckland last night (Dec 8th) when families and special House ’friends’ got to preview part of the new House extension.

The new kitchen facilities at the home for families of hospitalised children had their first big work out as celebrities donned aprons and cooked and served a Christmas dinner for staff, guests and families.

John Aiken, Kelly Swanson-Roe, Oscar Keightly, Bernice Mene and Laura Langman

Matt Gibb, Dayna Vawdrey, Anna Julienne and Vicki Lin.

Noel Leeming and Fisher & Paykel donated 12 brand new ovens and ceramic hobs, 5 dishwashers, 11 microwaves and 5 fridge-freezers to the extension.

Celebrity TV chef Astar was on hand to help serve up a typical Kiwi Christmas dinner. Former Silver Fern and sports presenter Bernice Mene, Kelly Swanson-Roe from TV3, celebrity psychologist John Aiken, Matt, Dayna from Studio 2, Bro' Town’s Oscar Knightley, Silver Fern Laura Langman, Shortland Street actor Anna Julienne and Vicky Lynn from Saturday Disney helped dish up.

Ronald McDonald House provided the refreshments and decorations for the dinner. Noel Leeming provided the food supported by a substantial amount of Christmas fare from the Mad Butcher, Countdown supermarket and McDonald’s.

Noel Leeming chief executive Nick Lowe says he was humbled by the experience.

“Ronald McDonald House is a wonderful facility and we are delighted to be involved again after the home had such great success with its previous Fisher & Paykel appliances.”

Fisher & Paykel Appliances General Manager of NZ Sales & Marketing Craig Douglas says his company is delighted to help provide the much needed equipment for this extension as they had for the original House.

“The opportunity of working with Noel Leeming to support Ronald McDonald House is a great way for us to cement the new relationship we have with Noel Leeming and to support New Zealand families in a tangible way.”

“These are the families of loved children who are spending Christmas in hospital, so it’s a great way to bring a little cheer to them and their families stay at Ronald McDonald House.”

Beth Harman, chief executive of Ronald McDonald House in Auckland, says the new wing is a superb Christmas present for those staying at Ronald McDonald House and it is one further step towards the completion of the total expansion project which will be fully commissioned at an official launch in April 2006.

The RMH Auckland Trust via the Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Family Room provides a ‘home away from home’ for many thousands of families of children with life-threatening illnesses each year. RMH Auckland Trust is a community charitable trust comprising the following partners: Auckland District Health Board, Heart Children NZ (1995) Trust, Child Cancer Foundation Accommodation Trust, Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland. Each is represented on the Trust board along with two community representatives.

Special thanks also goes to: The Mad Butcher (this company provides meat for the families dinners every week), Aunt Betty’s, Auckland Hotel & Chef School, Countdown Supermarket, Foodtown, McDonald’s, Pandoro Bakery, Anne Geddes staff (Christmas Tree) and Scott Wright (Chef).

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