Man Walking 1,000 Miles For Charity Arrives In New Haven

Press release from Ronald McDonald House Charities® New England, Inc.:

September 29, 2020

Boston, MA – Dwight Barnes, a Deerfield, NH resident and retired McDonald’s Owner/Operator, is setting out on a 1,000-mile journey on August 17, 2020 to help raise awareness and much needed critical funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of New England. Dwight will start his ambitious walk at the Ronald McDonald House in Boston and will walk 20-25 miles per day, making his way across New England.

Having spent almost 40 years in the McDonald’s restaurant business, 29 years leading the Annual RMHC Fenway Night and 3 years on the local RMHC Chapter board, Dwight has seen firsthand what this Charity has done for thousands of families. He felt that the best way to raise awareness was to visit those staying at each Ronald McDonald House in New England, and thus will walk to the houses in Portland, ME; Bangor, ME; Burlington, VT; Springfield, MA; New Haven, CT and Providence, RI. His journey is expected to span 56 days.

“The mission of the RMHC has been near and dear to my heart for decades and I am honored to take on this challenge to help raise much-needed funds for an organization that does so much good for those in need,” said Dwight Barnes. “In training for this walk, I can’t help but think about all the struggles these amazing kids and their families go through. RMHC does their best to accommodate as many families as possible, but we must find a way of avoiding saying ‘no’ to any family in need.”

RMHC of New England’s mission is to develop, support and provide programs that directly improve the health and well-being of critically ill children and their families. In the past three years, requests to stay at the Ronald McDonald House at Boston Harbor have doubled. It is this vital need for housing, and RMHC of New England’s plans to add additional bedrooms, that first inspired Dwight’s efforts. Due to the impact of COVID-19, Join the Journey Home is one of the few fundraisers for the branch that has not been postponed or cancelled. With this in mind, Dwight has doubled his fundraising goals knowing that pediatric illness, and the need for housing, has not stopped while the rest of the world is on pause.

“We cannot thank Dwight and his supporters enough for their generosity and encouragement,” said Nicole Anderson, Chief Advancement Officer for RMHC of New England. “Due to COVID-19, we are currently facing significant projected revenue loss for 2020 and are thus immensely grateful for these donations that will provide pediatric patients and their families services that will lessen the financial and emotional burden families endure during a medical crisis.”

Supporters can follow along with Dwight’s journey at #JoinTheJourneyHomeRMHCNE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To become a sponsor, donate and learn more about how you can support Dwight’s Walk, please visit https://rmhcne.org/rmhc-ne-events/join-the-journey-home-rmhcne/.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities® New England, Inc.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® New England, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that serves families from around the United States and the world through our core programs: Ronald McDonald House in Providence, RI, Ronald McDonald House at Boston Harbor, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Hasbro Children's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, The RMHC Hospitality a la Carte program and two Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs.

This press release was produced by Ronald McDonald House Charities® New England, Inc. The views expressed here are the author's own.