Fiddlers ReStrung Help C.S. Mott and the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor Celebrate a Festival of Hope

There is possibly no family crisis more devastating than facing the challenge of coping with the care and treatment of a critically ill child. And, when that child must be transported away from the family home to receive medical care, options for family members wishing to be near the one in treatment can be one more burden to overcome.

When the new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital opens in November, it will include 12 private Ronald McDonald House rooms for the families of the hospital's most critically ill children.

“This house will feel more like a home than a hospital to give our families a relaxing environment to stay while their child is ill,” Kim Kelly, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor noted.

To stay at a Ronald McDonald House, families need to live at least 40 miles away from the hospital and have a child undergoing treatment who is under 21. Ronald McDonald House asks for a $10-a-night donation, but families are never turned away if they can’t pay

To celebrate the partnership between C.S. Mott and the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor, the two organizations hosted a Festival of Hope on Main Street in Ann Arbor on Thursday afternoon and evening June 23, inviting the community to come out learn about the expanded offering.

Ronald McDonald was on hand for photo opportunities, and Fiddlers ReStrung provided musical entertainment. Originally scheduled to perform outdoors on the closed-to traffic Main Street stage, the event was hastily moved indoors to Conor O’Neill’s Celtic Room to escape the inclement weather.

Rain may have dampened the streets but spirits were high and dry as Fiddlers ReStrung improvised an acoustic set of favorites, including Rocky Top, Calypso Jam, Big John McNeil, Jig Time, Big Trevor and Orange Blossom Special. Rhythm members of the group adapted to the alternative setting by accompanying the fiddles, violas and cellos on various percussion instruments.

The audience contributed to the ambiance of the occasion, with at least one young fan offering to join the group as a bongo player.  “She loves drums,” her mother explained.

Fiddlers ReStrung is a 21-piece string ensemble featured at over 80 performances annually consisting of students at Saline High School, all of whom share in producing a unique ensemble truly their own. The organization is officially sponsored and supported by Saline Area Schools and Saline Community Education. Students are chosen based not only on musical talent, but personal maturity as well as balancing a demanding performance schedule while maintaining high standards in other school activities, sports, and academics.

For additional information on Fiddlers ReStrung, please contact Rebecca Groeb-Driskill Cultural Arts Specialist, Saline Area Schools at (734) 429-8020 or visit the website www.fiddlersrestrung.com.