Latest news with #RonaldMcDonaldHouse
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
ILT swap suits for sleep wear in support
PHOTO: NINA TAPU Invercargill Licensing Trust chief executive Chris Ramsay (back row, far left) and his staff swapped their suits for pyjamas and slippers to support Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand's Pyjama Day. In the annual fundraiser, thousands of New Zealanders at schools, businesses and community groups don pyjamas to raise funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House. Mr Ramsay said the trust valued its community partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities. "We recognise the important role RMHC plays in providing families with a place to stay together during difficult times," he said. "As an active funder, we always look to walk the talk and this is a fun way for us to get involved and help drive fundraising efforts, beyond our traditional funding role. All ILT venues took part in the pyjama day.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey's 11th family room reopens for first time since pandemic
Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey's 11th family room is back open. This comes after it shut down at Jefferson Washington Township Hospital during the pandemic. It's the only family room in the world that sits in an emergency department. "Our family room programs for Ronald McDonald House are a direct reflection out into the community of what our house provides. So we believe that when a child is sick or injured, the family needs access to health care, we want to remove barriers and make things easier and offer support. So our family rooms are support for our community," Tracey Sharpe, the executive director of Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey, said. The Turnersville hospital has a second family room on the NICU floor. "To have a quiet space where they can bring their children, whether the children are here as patients, or they're here accompanying their parents is huge," Jenny Breunig, the vice president of operations for Jefferson Washington Township Hospital, said.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Ystrad Mynach gym in 24-hour relay for Ronald McDonald House
Runners from Evolution Gym in Ystrad Mynach took part in a 24-hour relay raising funds for Ronald McDonald House. The charity provides free home-away-from-home accommodation and support to families whilst their children are having treatment in hospital. The 22 members taking part divided themselves into teams of four, with each person running one mile before tagging in the next one. The event got underway at 10am on Saturday, with the final leg being run 24 hours later. Julie and Greg Turley organised the 24-hour relay at Evolution Fitness. (Image: Tom Moody) Organiser Julie Turley said: 'We've got a family member that's recently used the charity. 'We heard about their story and thought it was a great charity to support. 'The gym is very community based. We support a lot projects. 'A lot of people at the gym, especially through Covid, struggled with their mental health. 'This gym has been a lifesaver. 'It's almost like a safe space. Members of Evolution Fitness took part in the 24-hour relay. (Image: Tom Moody) 'We're all going to pull each other through and support each other. We're so blessed that we're raising all this money for charity and that's what's going to keep us going. 'We've got a mix of people of all abilities who intend on walking a mile right through to some people who are going to try and set a bit of a record.' Kezia Edwards and her son Floki came along to support the runners. Their family, from Machen, stayed at Ronald McDonald House for between a month and six weeks when Floki was kept in the ICU in Cardiff after he was born. Kezia Edwards and her son Floki came to support the runners. (Image: Tom Moody) 'That we were staying close was such a godsend,' Ms Edwards said. 'We were able to be right next to his incubator. 'It was like a home away from home. 'It's a massive stress relief that we didn't have to leave him. Even just the thought of going home every day without our baby. It was supposed to be the happiest time of our lives. 'Without those rooms being sponsored, we would have potentially had to go home to an empty house without our baby for six weeks.' The first runners set off on the opening leg of the 24-hour relay. (Image: Tom Moody) 'I know people who have used the charity so for me and for them it was an important thing to support,' said Jason Jones. 'We're always doing fun events like this. We make them fun too, and raise money for a good cause.' 'We try and do something every year,' said Paul Jessop. 'Believe it or not, we're doing a class afterwards on Sunday!' After completing their challenge, the group has raised more than £3,000. You can find out more, or donate if you are able to, at
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Mother creates a book to help siblings navigate neonatal intensive care
When Deloraine mother Jayne Case went into hospital to have her third child, things didn't go to plan. Her son was born with kidney issues and the new family of five needed to temporarily relocate to Hobart, three hours from their home in Tasmania's north. The family was based at the Royal Hobart Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for six weeks. "He needed a lot of extra support and help once he was out in the world," she told Tracey Strong on ABC Radio Hobart Evenings. The newborn required surgery at eight days old, and the lives of her eight-year-old and five-year-old sons were turned upside down. "They moved from a quiet country life straight into the heart of Hobart at Ronald McDonald House," she said. "That was a bit of a transition for them both." Ms Case said the NICU was quite confronting at first, and very different to how her sons thought they would meet their new sibling. "It's not what you're ever expecting when you think of a newborn baby, especially when you've waited for your little brother for so long," she said. The NICU is on a separate ward and floor to the maternity ward. "In terms of newborn babies and how we expect them to be in their mother's arms, in their mother's bed in the maternity ward in the hospital, it's not like that at all," she said. "Most of the babies are absolutely tiny and they've got cords and tubes and all sorts of life-saving monitors around them. Ms Case said at one point she couldn't hold her new baby for five days. Ms Case said she and her husband tried to stay together at the hospital so they could help each other digest any news from medical staff. "When the doctor walks in the door you never know what they are going to say," she said. "We needed lots of extra help with the other boys. She felt that she needed something to help explain to the boys what was going on. "None of us had the brain space to do that," she said. "I thought it'd be great to have a book and went online and tried to find something, but I couldn't find anything that was suitable." It inspired her to write something herself. "I held onto the idea and one night when he was four or five months old it just appeared in my brain just like magic," she said. The book, Counting on You, was released at the start of June and is written from the perspective of a boy called Otto who loves numbers. It goes through all the different things Otto did to help himself cope during his baby brother's NICU time. "It's personal for me but I know it'll be really helpful for other siblings of NICU babies to see themselves in this big scary journey," Ms Case said. "Until you've experienced it yourself it's really difficult to get your head around." Her now two-year-old will have life-long kidney issues. "He's an amazing little kid, we all absolutely adore him and will do absolutely anything for him," she said. "I hope [the book] helps siblings and families going through a similar journey to find comfort and hope and recognition of how things are for them. "I'd love to also help other families and children who haven't experienced the NICU world to have a greater understanding and empathy of other people's stories."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Lucie Southall: Brother vows 'never again' after 21-hour walk
A brother from Redditch has vowed "never again" after walking more than 50 miles through the night in tribute of his late sister. Ashley Southall, from Redditch, lost his 12-year-old sister Lucie when she died from leukaemia in 2013. Her family set up the Lucie Southall Leukaemia Fund a year later to raise money for charity through challenges and events. The 31-year-old completed the challenging on Saturday, walking through fields, bridleways, canals and footpaths in a mammoth 21-hour stint. The route took him and friend from Lucie's dedicated bench in Arrow Valley Lake to Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. The centre provides en-suite bedrooms for family members whose children are being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital. It can accommodate up to 60 families at any one time and supports more than 6,000 in an average year. Lucie's family say it gave them a place to stay when it mattered most. In a renewed fundraising push, they are trying to raise £5,000 to sponsor two rooms for three years. The pair set off on a warm Friday afternoon and Mr Southall said he felt okay for about 35 miles before the blisters and the cramp set claimed they also had to contend with unruly wildlife including "an angry bull and fierce swans". But he still managed to "keep his head while his body took a bettering", he added. After the challenge, though, he jokingly had one message: "Never again." Lucie's cousin David Southall helped organise the event but was unable to take part due to an injury. The newly-qualified firefighter was advised against the challenge to avoid making his bad knee worse, but said loved ones were impressed by the effort. "Everyone that knows Ash knows that he is way out of his comfort zone but he's also not someone that will give up easily either," he said. "All family and friends are proud of both of the lads and the Lucie Southall Leukaemia Fund is grateful for all of the funds raised." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
