NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray is donating $5,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Huron Valley on Thursday.
The money will go toward the chapter’s “Hope Away From Home” campaign, which launched in 2010. In 2011 the campaign funded the opening of the Ronald McDonald House within C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The campaign is now working to fund the renovation and refurbishment of the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor on Washington Heights.
According to a news release, McMurray’s donation will cover the cost of refurnishing one room in the house.
RMHC of the Huron Valley houses families who have sick children and need to a place to stay while seeking treatment. McMurray’s donation will help provide more comfortable accommodations, according to a news release.
McMurray’s donation is a part of the “Join Team McMurray” initiative, which encourages fans to create their own fundraising websites and encourage friends and family to donate to RMHC. Driver of the Number 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet SS in the NSCS, McMurray will donate $50,000 total to RMHC chapters across the United States and visit Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide. Ann Arbor’s chapter is the first stop.
McMurray is to visit the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor Thursday afternoon to make his donation and visit with families being helped by the nonprofit organization.
On Sunday, McMurray will compete in the NASCAR Quicken Loans 400 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
Donations can be made to the “Hope Away From Home” online. You can also start your own team as a part of the “Join Team McMurray” initiative online.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.