A lot of shoes were walking during the month of September for the biggest fundraiser of the year for Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland and Labrador.

The final tally of how much was raised for the eighth annual Red Shoe Crew-Walk for Families was announced in St. John’s today.

$256,000 was raised through the efforts of 45 communities throughout the province.

Victor Hatcher’s son, Christian, was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia two-and-a-half years ago when he was eight years old. They have stayed at Ronald McDonald House 21 times since then.

Hatcher and his family live in Appleton and drove more than four hours to tell their story about what Ronald McDonald House has meant to them.

He says the facility has saved them mentally and financially, and now that they are a success story, he says it’s their turn to give back by raising awareness.

Hatcher says Christian is now years post-transplant. He’s been given a clean bill of health and he’s back to being a normal boy.