A COUPLE are so grateful for the help they received from Ronald McDonald House when their son was seriously ill that they will be working to boost the charity at a fundraising gala.

Andy and Alice Boon, from Milton, near Abingdon, spent 11 weeks at their son Archie’s bedside after he was born with life-threatening congenital heart defects in November.

The couple, who also have a two-year-old daughter called Pixie, were able to be near Archie as he battled a series of complications, thanks to Ronald McDonald House.

The charity provides free home-from-home accommodation so the parents of children being treated at the Oxford Children’s Hospital can stay by their children’s side.

Ronald McDonald House’s first ever fundraising gala dinner is being held this weekend.

At the event, Mr and Mrs Boon will tell their story. Mr Boon, 36, said: “When your child is ill, the one place you want to be is by their side.

“It can be a very difficult time for parents.

“Ronald McDonald House allows you to do this, while stopping you from going completely crazy and allowing you to keep a sense of reality.

“Every opportunity I get to help the charity, I take it, to the extent that next year I will be running the London Marathon in its name.”

Ronald McDonald House, which is based in the hospital building, welcomed its first families in January 2007.

It has 18 en-suite bedrooms, a communal bathroom, a laundry room and two fully equipped kitchens and communal lounges for parents to relax while their loved ones are being cared for.

The gala dinner is at Bicester Country Club, in Kirtlington, on Saturday.

Diners will enjoy a champagne reception, live band and a special auction.

Andrew Tee, assistant house and family care manager at the charity, said he hoped the dinner would give people a better insight into how much the house meant to its users.

He said: “All of the staff from the house are going to be there as well as families who have stayed with us.

“It’s a good opportunity for businesses who want to support us to hear and see a bit of what we do.”

To buy tickets for Saturday night’s £100-a-head gala dinner, send an email to galadinner@rmhcoxford.org.uk awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk For more information about Ronald McDonald House and the help it gives parents, see rmhc.org.uk/accomodation/oxford.php