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McDonald’s first McHappy Day in the UK and Ireland has raised more than £3 million for Ronald McDonald House UK and Ronald McDonald House Ireland.
The fundraising day took place on Saturday 26 September, bringing together customers, franchisees and suppliers to raise funds supporting families with seriously ill children receiving hospital treatment.
The amount raised is enough to fund approximately 43,000 nights of free accommodation for UK families.
During McHappy Day, £1 or €1 from every qualifying main meal sold was donated to Ronald McDonald House UK and Ronald McDonald House Ireland.
Proceeds from limited-edition Grimace beanies were also donated, alongside contributions from McDonald’s franchisees and supply partners.
More than 120,000 reversible Grimace beanies were sold during the campaign.
Restaurants across the UK and Ireland also staged fundraising activities including challenges, raffles and face painting, while more than 30 suppliers and partners contributed through donations, sales-linked fundraising, staff events or marketing support.
Ronald McDonald House UK supported 8,488 families across 14 Houses during 2025, with families staying for an average of 16 nights.
The charity estimates those stays saved families from travelling more than 10 million miles.
Since 2024, Ronald McDonald House Ireland has supported more than 5,400 families from across Ireland.
The Houses are located close to specialist children’s hospitals, allowing families to remain near children undergoing treatment while having somewhere to stay.
Since Ronald McDonald House was established in the UK in 1989 and Ireland in 2004, McDonald’s and its franchisees have raised more than £150 million.
More than 100,000 families have stayed at Ronald McDonald Houses across the UK and Ireland during that period.
Ella Joseph, CEO at Ronald McDonald House UK, said: “We are so grateful to McDonald’s, its Franchisees, customers and suppliers for their extraordinary generosity on the UK’s first McHappy Day®. The families who stay with us are often facing the unimaginable, caring for a seriously ill or injured child, while spending weeks or months away from home. With over £3 million raised we can provide families in the UK with approximately 43,000 nights of free accommodation giving them one less thing to worry about and letting them focus on what matters most: being there for their child.”
Lauren Schultz, CEO at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made our first UK and Ireland McHappy Day such a success. Our customers, Franchisees, Crew and supply partners went above and beyond to raise more than £3 million for Ronald McDonald House UK and Ronald McDonald House Ireland. Every contributing meal, every Grimace beanie bought and every fundraising activity will help a family stay close to their seriously ill child in hospital, at no cost to them, at a time when being together matters most. McHappy Day has been part of McDonald’s around the world for decades, and seeing the UK and Ireland embrace it so warmly in its first year has made us incredibly proud.”
Joe Kenny, CEO Ronald McDonald House Ireland said: “Inmy ten years with Ronald McDonald House Ireland, I have never felt a strongerconnection to a McDonald’s fundraising event. From the weeks leading up to McHappy Day right through to the day itself, there was a real sense of excitement and purpose acrossthe McDonald’s family. Franchisees, restaurant teams, suppliers, and customers all got behind it in a way that was genuinely special. Raisingmore than £3 million is an incredible achievement. It means families can remain together duringsome of the hardest days of their lives. On behalf of every family whowill benefit, thankyou to everyone who made McHappy Day sucha tremendous success.”
The total more than doubles the £1.5 million fundraising target announced ahead of the inaugural event.
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