MACKAY, QUEENSLAND – The 2023 Mackay Basketball NBL1 fundraising game and charity singlet auction held back in July has set a new record, with the club raising $32,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia.

The $32,000 collected through raffles held on the night, along with the McDonald’s Mackay Meteors annual charity singlet auction, eclipsed the former benchmark of $30,000 set back in 2021.

Earlier today, Mackay Basketball General Manager and McDonald’s Meteors NBL1 Head Coach Joel Khalu presented a cheque to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) North Australia Community Engagement Executive Samantha Lee, at the Ronald McDonald Family Room located in the Mackay Base Hospital.

“Mackay Basketball is extremely proud to use its platform to raise funds for such a worthwhile cause,” Khalu said.

“We’re stoked that our basketball community can contribute to Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia, who support the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital. RMHC helps ensure that sick kids and their families in our region will get the support they need, when needed.”

“Mackay Basketball are also extremely grateful to everybody who attended the game, donated selflessly, bought raffle tickets and placed bids on the singlets. As a sporting family we’re very lucky to have so many people willing to put their hand in their pockets and help make a difference.”

RMHC North Australia Community Engagement Executive Samantha Lee also thanked Mackay Basketball.

“We’re blown away by this donation, it’s an absolutely amazing effort and we are very grateful,” Lee said.

“On behalf of the Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia we want to say a huge thank you to everybody involved with Mackay Basketball for their wonderful and ongoing support.”