Ronald McDonald House Charities has launched a campaign in New Zealand to help families with a child in the hospital away from home.
The charity has issued a challenge to families across the country to get involved, build their own special fort and ask their friends to do the same. The aim is many forts will raise awareness of the family togetherness that RMHC New Zealand provides when a child is in hospital away from home. Once you’ve built your masterpiece, share a photo of the fort on social media with the hashtag #BuildAFort and tag @rmhcnewzealand.
Greer Feck, an 11-year-old girl from Dannevirke is the face of the campaign. When Greer was just 14 months old, she was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor on her spinal cord and had to be treated by doctors in Wellington Hospital, more than 200 km away from home. The family was given comfort knowing they could all stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Wellington, right across the road from the hospital.
Ronald McDonald House is like Greer’s second home, as her family also stayed in the Auckland House while she underwent major surgery at the hospital.
This year, the charity aims to raise $320,000 in April and May for their Family Appeal, to allow them to continue to provide essential support to families when they need it most, including comfortable ensuite bedrooms to sleep in, nourishing meals and a friendly ear to listen at the end of a long day on the hospital ward.
“Please join us to help raise awareness of the work RMHC New Zealand does and drive donations to ensure families like mine and yours have what they need most when their lives are turned upside down,” said Wayne Howett, CEO, RMHC New Zealand.
“Last year, RMHC New Zealand helped over 4,300 families – more than we ever have since opening our doors almost 30 years ago, and this year is already shaping up to be even busier.”
For more information about the #BuildAFort campaign please visit buildafort.org.nz.
To donate, text FORT to 4483 (to donate $3), or visit www.rmhc.org.nz/donate.
