Ronald McDonald House of Charities hopes to grow its funding base
Ronald McDonald House of Charities seeks to ensure that no family has to face the challenges of a child’s illness alone, says acting CEO Nicolas Marcel.
The financial resources behind the operations of the Ronald McDonald House of Charities (RMHC) Family Rooms are lagging in the face of an escalating need to service family members of children being treated at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
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The house’s acting CEO, Nicolas Marcel, revealed this during an interview. He said they have ambitions to grow the funding base for the rooms to meet the rising demand.
“Our funds are limited but the demand to accommodate family members of the sick children is far outstripping our financial resources, hence the need and desire to increase our funding base. The more the better, so we can match the need,” Marcel said.
He added some of the sick children come from all over the African continent and most of those family members can hardly foot their bills of travel to and from the hospital once the child has been discharged.
He said the rooms mainly catered for moms and dads, siblings, and sometimes gogos who play the role of matriarch of the family, and this tends to stretch the budget beyond what was expected.
At Africa’s largest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, RMHC has rooms for family members of sick children and a lactation centre.
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Turning to the impact of the R10 Hand Campaign on Families in Need as McDonald’s South Africa and RMHC marked World Children’s Day, Marcel reaffirmed the commitment to supporting children’s health and well-being.
The global celebration, observed on November 20, is dedicated to advocating for children’s rights and creating a better future for the next generation and this year’s celebration shined a spotlight on the transformative impact of the R10 Hand Campaign, which seeks to provide a ‘home away from home’ for families with children undergoing medical treatment.
It provides free accommodation, meals, and transportation to families during their children’s hospital stays and offers a safe and supportive environment for families during their most challenging times. “Together, we can ensure that no family has to face the challenges of a child’s illness alone.”
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