Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta hosting summer events in Lakeland

Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta (RMHC) is excited to be able to host two events this summer in the Lakeland Region to help support the organization.

The organization is vital for Lakeland families seeking medical treatment for their seriously ill or injured child which provides a home-away-from-home for families who need to travel for medical reasons.

Oreen Skiba is the Stakeholder Relations Manager in the Lakeland Region.

“In 2020, 717 nights of comfort was provided for Lakeland families,” Skiba told Lakeland Connect.

Skiba says the longest stay for a family was 215 nights, and the second-longest stay was 148 nights.

“The average length of stay for Lakeland families was 26.21 nights,” Skiba said.

In March 2020, the provincial government deemed RMHC Alberta an essential service, which underscores the significant impact they have on the families they serve.

“We enable them to stay together during a child’s medical treatment, and be in close proximity to the hospital,” Skiba said.

She explained RMHC Alberta plays a significant role in family-centred care and is critical to its success by helping patients and their families improve their quality of life, strengthen their coping abilities, ease financial burdens, and have a more positive hospital experience.

Having a severely sick child can be very stressful for parents and can cost a lot of money. Fundraising helps ensures these families are well taken care of with a comfortable place to stay. Skiba says they also provide gas cards to help financially.

“The Houses may be in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Medicine Hat but it’s our families, neighbors, coworkers, and friends utilizing them,” Skiba said. “Fundraising in this region is critical.”

With a 2021 annual operating budget of $6.5 million, Skiba said the primary source of funding is through individual and corporate donations. The secondary source is through their signature fundraising events.

Lakeland Events Planned

The RMHC Alberta Lakeland Golf event is scheduled to take place on June 19 at the Cold Lake Golf & Winter Club. There will be a tee time format to ensure COVID-19 guidelines are being followed as set out by Alberta Health Services. Teams will tee off every 12 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Entrance fees are $125 for an individual or $500 for a team of four. Players will get 18 holes of golf along with a power cart to help them navigate the course. There will also be tons of prizes and an online auction hosted on the same day.

RMHC has a contingency plan just in case they have to cancel or postpone the golf tournament. If plans change, entrants will be able to turn their registration fee into a tax deductible donation, defer their fee to next year, or receive a refund less any credit card processing fees.

To register for your tee time, click here.

The other event planned will see participants Hustle for the House, from July 19 to 24. It’s the second annual event of this kind for RMHC. Participants will join across the province by running, walking, biking, or getting outside and fundraising in the community to support families who need to stay at a Ronald McDonald House in Alberta.

Last year, more than $225,000 was raised by over 1,500 participants from 124 different communities in Alberta.

According to Skiba, there’s even a category for pets this year.

The fee to enter the event is $35 for adults, $20 for youths under the age of 17 and $10 to enter your pet. For supporting the event you will get some neat swag which includes a Hustle for the House shirt or pet bandana.

Participants who register before June 1 will receive their shirt or bandana prior to July 19. Participants who register after June 1 will receive their shirts or bandanas after the event.

For more information click here.

arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca