Ronald McDonald House Charities to Host 3 Events in Cold Lake

The Lakeland Region Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern Alberta will be hosting three events in Cold Lake in the next few months. Manager of Development for the Lakeland Region, Oreen Skiba, says the organization is excited for the upcoming events and the ability to help more families from the Lakeland.

The first of the three events will be a run on May 7th, the golf tournament is returning to the Cold Lake Golf Winter Club, on June 18th, and on November 5th there will be a curling bonspiel. “Last year was the first year that we started doing fundraising events, in the Lakeland,” Skiba says that even though the organization wasn’t hosting fundraisers in the area, they have been helping over one hundred families for years.

“Over a 125 families, from our region, have utilized the house. Last year, families stayed the equivalent of 769 days in the Ronald McDonald House and we were able to save them over $210,000 in food and hotel costs,” reports Skiba. There are some qualifications in using the home, “families have to live further than 45 kilometres outside of Edmonton to be able to access the House,” Skiba explains that to use the House, families must be recommended by a social worker. This typically happens at the hospital. If a family is recommended by a social worker the Ronald McDonald House will try not turn them away. “We do have a waiting list to get into the Ronald McDonald House. Unfortunately, our House definitely needs to grow and we are looking at expanding. We do have hotel partners, so if we’re not able to get them into the House, we can get them into a hotel and hopefully, at a reduced rate.” The home is quite unique, says Skiba, “we have 32 family rooms in our House, and three commercial kitchens that the families have access to.”

RUN FOR RONALD
May 7, 2016
Cold Lake
The run will consist of a 5 km fun run/walk, a 10 km run and a half marathon raising
funds for Ronald McDonald House® Charities Northern Alberta (RMHCNA). In 2015, the
Run for Ronald was a huge success with over 335 participants, 35 volunteers and over
$26,000 raised. Every participants received a Race Kit with a pair of striped socks and
branded t-shirt. The half marathoners received medals when they crossed the finish line.

CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC: LAKELAND REGION
June 18, 2016
The Cold Lake Golf & Winter Club
The RMHCNA Lakeland Golf Charity Classic will take place June 18th 2016 at the Cold Lake
Golf & Winter Club, with a shotgun Texas scramble format. In 2015 we had 29 teams and
35 volunteers participate raising over $28,000. Participants were provided breakfast,
BBQ dinner and a Silent Auction. In 2016 a Dinner/Dance event will be added.

ROCK THE HOUSE CURLING FUNSPIEL
November 5, 2016
Cold Lake
The Rock the House Curling Funspiel, is a rocking good bonspiel with a twist to the rules
to make it fun and accessible to everyone. In 2015, 16 teams of four participated, and
were provided with players bags, lunch, dinner and a silent auction, all the while listening
to a DJ or live band. $18,000 was raised.

Companies or people wishing to help any or all of the events via donations or entry into the events, can contact Oreen Skiba at 780-545-1976 or email oreen@rmhcna.org.