Help keep families close when it matters most
When 17-year-old Megan Senn was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2015, she and her mom Karen had only an hour to pack before driving to Vancouver. Their doctor told them to bring clothes for a couple of weeks, but they ended up receiving treatment in Vancouver for almost a year without returning home to Salmon Arm.
For Megan’s family, and thousands more families who live outside the Lower Mainland, a child’s serious illness turns life upside down. Parents feel financial and emotional strains from being away from home, and siblings are also thrust into the upheaval. That’s where Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon (http://rmhbc.ca) comes in.
RMH BC provides comfortable and safe accommodations for seriously ill children and their families, just steps away from the hospital. And in 2014, the facility grew from a 13-bedroom house to a new 73-bedroom house, serving up to 2,000 families each year.
For Megan and Karen, staying at RMH BC provided normalcy during their year in Vancouver – a place to cook meals, do laundry and relax after long days of chemotherapy treatments. Megan also enjoyed volunteerrun programs such as massages and nail painting days.
Staying at RMH BC also kept Megan’s family close when they needed each other most. Megan’s older sisters were able to visit for the holidays, and her younger brother Connor was able to stay with them full-time. He was also able to find support from other siblings at the house, all sharing a common experience.
Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon is designed with comfort in mind, and includes spacious guest bedrooms with private washrooms, several indoor and outdoor play spaces, a fitness room, an arts and crafts room and four state-of-the-art kitchens. More than just a place to stay, Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon is a place for young patients and their families to heal together.
At the new RMH BC, we can make a difference to the lives of even more families than before. But in order to continue doing this for years to come, we need community support.
Leaving a legacy gift is a meaningful way to ensure ongoing support for the children and families who depend on RMH BC. We can help you and your financial advisor find the best option to suit your needs and address any concerns you might have.
By leaving a legacy gift for Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon, you give strength and hope to BC and Yukon families with seriously ill children, and keep them together when it matters most. For more information about legacy giving, please contact us at 604736-2957 or plannedgiving@rmhbc.ca.