One week ago today (May 8), the residents of St. Thomas and Elgin – indeed across the country – got swept up in McHappy Day. With all proceeds in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
myFM spoke with Matthew Chater, CEO of RMHC Southwestern Ontario who advised $11.3 million was raised in Canada, up from around $9 million last year.
Surprisingly, Canada is the only country to host McHappy Day, advised Chater.
Two out of three Canadians live in a city without a specialized children’s hospital, and so RMHC Southwestern Ontario provides families with a “home-away-from-home” close to the world-class medical care their children need.
RMHC Southwestern Ontario operates 3 programs: a House in London, A Family Room within L.H.S.C. Children’s Hospital, and a House-Within-A-Hospital inside Windsor Regional Hospital.
Over the past 30 years, more than $100 million has been raised through McHappy Day in support of children and families across Canada. These funds have been critical in helping RMHC support nearly half a million families with sick or injured children, ensuring families can stay close to their child receiving critical medical treatment.
However, the demand for RMHC’s programs is on the rise. Particularly in southwestern Ontario, stressed Chater.
Today, RMHC is unable to support up to 4 out of 5 families who need the Ronald McDonald House program due to a lack of space or no available location.
Chater added the needs of RMHC are no longer being met and so the organization is looking at ways to grow and expand.
Chater indicated local totals from McHappy Day will be available shortly.
And, myFM will be speaking with Emily Spooner, whose daughter Ivy was born nine weeks early and required specialized care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she stayed for the first thirty days of her life.
Emily, meantime was able to stay at Ronald McDonald House in London.
Written by Ian McCallum
