Johnson & Johnson volunteers give ‘Mac House’ garden a makeover
13-strong team spent a day at Ronald McDonald House, Alder Hey, and cleared the outdoor space for families to use over the summer months
A team of volunteers from pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson gave the garden at Ronald McDonald House, Alder Hey, an “Alan Titchmarsh-style” makeover.
The spent a day at ‘Mac House’, which offers accommodation to families whose children are patients at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Hospital, and cleared the outdoor space for families to use over the summer months.
The company were inspired by one of their employees, Jay Cunningham, the Northern commercial director, who had stayed at the house himself when his child became ill. He said: “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is extremely important to Johnson & Johnson employees, and each employee has five days per year paid leave where they can contribute to CSR events around the UK.
“I lead CSR for my division in the UK, and I want to choose activities that can make a real difference to people’s lives. I chose Ronald McDonald House Liverpool as it was a place close to my heart.
“One morning our lives were turned upside down when our baby was rushed into Intensive care. Ronald McDonald House gave us respite, and allowed us to be close to our child, a home from home. The staff were fantastic, and when it was Christmas they even received presents, which was amazing.
“Without their support, I don’t know what we would have done. Seeing children play in the area afterwards we had cleaned was very rewarding for all the team at Johnson & Johnson.”
After a tour of the house, the team pledged to return again to help. Kate Davis, fundraising manager at Mac House, added: ““Our volunteers are crucial to the work we do here at Ronald McDonald House, and the team from Johnson & Johnson did a great job.
“They worked hard to spruce up the outdoor space for our families, which is well used during the good weather by siblings and sometimes patients from the hospital. It was great to meet Jay and the team, and we look forward to seeing them again.”