This amount contributed to the national total of close to $2.4 million, a record amount and the most ever raised in McHappy Day’s 19 year history.

The funds will go directly to RMHC, which supports a number of programs throughout Australia to bring hope and happiness to seriously ill children and their families.

“We are thrilled with the donation results of McHappy Day and want to pass on our sincere thanks to the Inverell community, volunteers, staff and VIPs that helped us raise funds for seriously ill children,” said Chris Rodgers licensee of McDonald’s Inverell.

On McHappy Day, $1 from the sale of every Big Mac, $2 from Byron Bay Cookie Houses, 10c from every ‘Mighty Us Mighty Me’ Happy Meal and profits from $3 Crazy Straws were donated directly to RMHC, with further contributions made by the community in the lead up to and on McHappy Day via donation buckets in McDonald’s restaurants and the website www.mchappyday.com.au

Chris said the record donation results indicate that the Inverell community is still as committed as ever to supporting RMHC and contributing to this fantastic national fundraising event.

In the past 19 years, funds raised on McHappy Day have been contributed to RMHC programs including building and maintaining 13 Ronald McDonald Houses across the country, which provide a home-away-from-home for the families with seriously ill children being treated at nearby hospitals.

Funds have also assisted the establishment of the Ronald McDonald Learning Program which provides a free educational catch-up for children who have missed lengthy periods of schooling due to serious illness; the RMHC Cord Blood Bank program to provide life-saving cord blood used mainly to treat childhood cancers; and the establishment of five Ronald McDonald Family Retreats and three Ronald McDonald family Rooms.

The 2010 Kids Calenders are being sold for $2 at McDonald’s restaurants across NSW and ACT, with one hundred percent of the profits going to Ronald McDonald Houses, Family Rooms and other RMHC programs being run in the region.