On the 25th September 2016 my nephew Max suffered a stroke at his 7th birthday party. This is enough for any family to deal with, but to get the appropriate specialist treatment he needed, Max spent 3 months at Southampton General Hospital and a further 3 months at the on-site rehab centre, both some 50 miles from his home.

It was at this time that my sister-in-law, Michelle, learned of the Ronald McDonald House linked to the hospital. This invaluable service allowed Max's family to spend important time by his side. It was like a home from home for the family, which also allowed Max's sister Sophie, and his dad Gary, to stay close to him when possible.

Without the house, Max's family would have needed to make the daily journey to and from the hospital. Not only did the house provide somewhere to stay, but the staff and fellow 'stayers' gave Michelle and Gary, much needed support at what was an incredibly difficult time.

Please do give as generously as you can for this amazing charity which helps families when they face incredibly difficult times.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.