Shutterbug focuses on funds for home away from home | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Charmaine Marinkovich wants to do her bit for young children and their families.

The award-wining Tauranga photographer has decided to donate all proceeds from portrait sessions booked in March to Ronald McDonald House in Auckland.

She is encouraging people to "share a smile for the home away from home" to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House, which provides shelter and support for families who must travel to Auckland so their children can receive life-saving treatment.

Miss Marinkovich visited Ronald McDonald House last year. She has chosen to fundraise for the charity because she feels that it is providing a valuable support system for the families of ill children.

Miss Marinkovich said she was fortunate her family was healthy, but "you never know when your own family might need Ronald McDonald House".

Last year around 1100 families from the Bay of Plenty used Ronald McDonald House. One of those was the Roads-Carlin family from Papamoa.

Victoria Roads-Carlin, now 12, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in August 2008 and the family had to make many trips to Auckland for Victoria's treatment.

The family has spent up to six weeks at a time at Ronald McDonald House.

Victoria's parents, Moss Carlin and Sarah Roads, said that without Ronald McDonald House, the family could never have afforded the constant trips to Auckland to be with Victoria and the family would have been put under a huge strain.

Read the full story in today's Bay of Plenty Times