A home away from home is what many families in Forbes have called the Ronald McDonald House in Orange.
A home that has and continues to provide comfort, support and resources to 170 families in the Forbes Shire who travel far from home for the medical care their child needs.
Brendon Allegri and his family is one of those 170 Forbes families who have used the service and now Brendon wants to give back to the service that helped his family.
The Partner/Forbes Sales Specialist at Ray White Forbes will be taking part in the CEO Walk in My Shoes raising money and awareness for the Ronald McDonald House Charity.
"I want to give something back because it is such a good service," Brendon said.
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"I was discussing it (CEO Walk in My Shoes) with one of the managers in Orange. I came to know her because my son in 2020, when he was born we stayed in Ronald McDonald House for a while."
Brendon and his family didn't know this service was available to them or that it even existed.
"Like everything until you go through the process you don't know it's there but because we were over 100kms away from where we had to be they offered that service because it is right next to the hospital, it was ideal.
"We could focus on what we were there for in hospital."
By staying in the House Brendon was provided with meals and was able to duck backwards and forwards to visit his wife in hospital.
"The volunteers were really lovely, they were there looking out for everyone and it brings you down to earth when you see what some people are going through as some people are staying there for quite a while," Brendon said.
By taking part in the CEO Walk in My Shoes Brendon will be staying 24 hours in Ronald McDonald House at Orange from 29 to 30 May.
He and other CEO's fundraising for the House will be cooking and serving breakfast and dinner to families, understand what some families go through and gain a unique insight on what it takes to run the House and create a sense of empathy for the families that stay at the House.
Brendon has also been fundraising in the lead up to his 24 hour stay at the House in Orange.
"It's exciting to raise a bit of money and help out in that way, it's something we can do with not much trouble.
"There has been a lot of people reach out from my fundraiser that I know that I didn't know have used the service recently or previously.
"What surprised me is there is more people that have used the facility than you know. Even a couple of doctors and medical professionals in town have reached out and they are keen to keep the service going because it obviously helps all their patients."
Forbes families have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Orange 221 times for a total of 906 nights by the end of April 2025.
By staying at the house these 170 Forbes families have saved over $134,700 in accommodation expenses.
"For those people who have been in care for six to 12 months the cost to stay somewhere else away from home would be astronomical if you were also paying your normal home situation. For people who are there for a long time it's a massive advantage to them.
"We were there on a couple of shorter occasions but it was really goo to have people (volunteers) there, be close to the hospital and if you've got kids they've got equipment so it's a bit of a distraction."
Brendon says if we don't raise money for charities and facilities like the Ronald McDonald House they will fold.
"We used it, It was pretty easy for us to do that and we will try and give something back in that way," Brendon added.
If you want to help Brendon reach his goal of $5000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities you can donate to https://www.ceowalkinmyshoes.org.au/fundraisers/brendonallegri/ceo-walk-in-my-shoes-orange
