News and events

RMHA St Martins proves its worth

We have talked a lot this year about why we need a new home close by — there are more families than rooms available in our two onsite facilities, it’s just that simple. The graph below dramatically tracks the growth in demand over the last 2 years when our existing House and Family Room 61 accommodation units are full.

Since July thankfully, families arriving at the busiest times have been accommodated together at RMHA St Martins. By commissioning these 16 leased apartments through to February 2011 while we continue to look for a new home, the Trust has ensured every family in our care has the opportunity for not just a clean room and a bed, but also a family space to share, and our own staff to provide the tender loving care they deserve at such a stressful time.

Here are comments from two families staying there recently:

“Our stay at St Martins has been an absolute pleasure. We felt very welcomed and nurtured. Doug and Rua are beautiful people and helped us feel like we were at home. Thank you for an absolutely warm environment.” — Solomon family, Waipukurau

“(St Martins) provides lovely space for families, less stressful a lot easier to care for sick children, allows youto be self sufficient, a fantastic service when you are a longstay family (heaven). Great hospitality, a BIG thanks to the RMH Team.” — Gardiner family, Dargaville

Thank you to everyone who has supported this Trust in 2009 and enabled this wonderful interim solution while we continue to seek an additional permanent ‘home’.

Can you help us to ensure that every family who needs our support will receive it? Donate now!

Christmas thanks to our ‘extended family’

As Christmas is just around the corner, I wish to personally thank everyone in our ‘extended family’ who gave to us in this taxing year. It hasn’t been the easiest time for anyone. Whether it was time, services, goods or cash — everything you have generously gifted has been used wisely to support our mission.

Our Trustees, staff and the many, many families who have enjoyed time-out from Starship wards in our Family Room are appreciative. Without your kindness and generosity, 2009 would have been a much more difficult year for us all. Thank you.

Everyone at the House wishes you, and your family, a very happy holiday season, a relaxing and safe Christmas. We sincerely hope that 2010 not only fulfills our hopes and dreams, of our families getting the best possible results and our Trust finding a splendid new permanent home, but also fulfills your fondest hopes and dreams too. Happy holidays!

High five for the Breakers

Home game nights are always special for House guests staying with us who get to sit ringside and be greeted by the Breakers boys. Plus this season, management made a special invitation to our school to join them at their last training session of the year before the season started. As a result one excited attendee has decided maybe being a Breaker would be more fun than being an All Black! These visits have been in place for three seasons thanks to the wonderful Chris Millbank (now a member of the traveling ‘team’ in his special water boy role) and the very generous Breakers management and players.

Blooming marvelous — we are almost there!

With all of your help we are almost ready to turn the first sod! You’ll be able to check out just how many people we have to thank in our next newsletter early next year! Pledges, in kind support and funds to hand have reached a milestone of $38,000 so we only have another $2,000 to find and it’s all go! Our professional landscaper, Dan Mackay from Palmers Garden World, his brother Shea and four BNZ volunteers have also helped the project move forward by clearing the site, ready for action in the New Year.

If you can pitch in your support please make an online donation!

Rutherford students do good

Project K students from Rutherford College, West Auckland took up the challenge to give something back by raising funds for the House. They recently held a sausage sizzle, raffle and mufti-day at their school, in total raising $250 which they used to buy books, games and toys for the children staying in the House to enjoy. And to make it more special, the students also volunteered at the House for a day, cleaning and helping out where needed.

Marathon fundraiser a success

In June this year, Karl Bridges decided to turn his Adidas Auckland Marathon run into a fundraising event, choosing Ronald McDonald House Auckland as his charity. His motivation came from work colleague Ross, who has so far spent over 40 nights at the House while his son Max receives ongoing treatment for a congenital heart condition.

Karl completed the marathon in a time of 4hrs 48mins — “It was an amazing experience, one I’m definitely going to do again. The sense of achievement when you reach the finish line is awesome.” Karl not only put his body on the line but also raised a fantastic $1,231 for the House!

Northland family ‘converts’ their enthusiasm into $$$ for expansion

Nick Waihi and his family have been avid supporters of Ronald McDonald House since they stayed in 2007/08 while their son Brady received a life saving heart operation.

Deeply involved with Northland rugby and wanting to raise money for the House, Nick brought his two passions together by arranging for the Northland vs Tasman game on 4th October to be dedicated to the House.

The event began with a BBQ fundraiser cooked by the Northland rugby boys themselves. Next day volunteers collected at the gate and around the stadium during the game. Bad weather dampened turn out and may be why Northland lost the game! But the final result was that the Waihi family and friends raised a fantastic $3,400 for our future expansion — what a great start!

Mitre 10 takahe shines in spotlight

The Takahe is a bird of special significance to Mitre 10 and they wanted to share this passion with the House. So Mitre 10 opened up an art competition to the children staying at the House during October, asking them to depict the Takahe in its natural habitat. Congratulations to Hamish Marsh and Charlie Cole who won the competition with their fantastic entries, winning themselves each a Sony DVD Handycam!

Paula Arblaster from Mitre 10 commented “Both of the winning entries captured the Takahe beautifully, in particular the inclusion of water and greenery.” Mitre 10 were so impressed with the entries to this competition, they have generously given every House entry a prize (we think Andrea’s fabulous weekly House art classes helped!). Thank you Mitre 10 for your great support of our kids and their families!

Meet Sue Morse

Our new Volunteer Manager Sue came to us from Griffins. There she was responsible for the recruitment, management and training of their national merchandising force.

With over 400 volunteers in the House annually providing a wide range of enhancements to our service, it was time to have a totally professional approach and a totally dedicated staff member managing these special people — ensuring their contributions are appropriate, well supported and recognised.

The NZ Lotteries Grant Board’s support of our volunteer programmes over the last 2 years has allowed us to develop this component of our offering — families truly appreciate the input of volunteers around the House. Maree Hoyle wrote to us from Cambridge this month and amongst other things she said, “Your volunteers did an awesome job, clean towels, hot soup, comfy bed, quiet corners, hot evening meals, fabulous!” The Hoyle family were here in June when their son Hayden had 7 1/2 hours of open heart surgery, thankfully with a great outcome.

If you are interested in gifting your time, early in the New Year Sue will be recruiting for some crucial regular volunteer roles. We are interested in meeting people with the following skills — administration, database entry, front of house or customer service experience — for support roles in the House and Family Room.

Supper club dance — a Rock ’n’ Roll success

A fabulous night was had by all attendees at our very first Supper Club event, largely organised and substantially supported by our special Business Club members.

Thanks to Pacific Blue and Aggie Grey’s, one of our special guests, Chris Steele, has recently returned from enjoying a week of sunshine in Samoa. He and companion Michele (of Business Club member Brookfield Multiplex) stayed on another week at their own expense to help out with the Tsunami cleanup. Great work you two!

Shane Cortese and his band were stars on the night. Mark Wright was a fabulous MC and the Production Company did a great job. Mum Tiffany staying in the House had her first night out for two years and made a very special heart felt and impromptu speech of thanks to everyone involved in the House. Shane has since made a quick visit to the House to catch up with this lovely family and meet their little daughter Eva who featured in our last issue.

Once again thank you to the organizers, donors and supporters — for a full list see thanks and big hugs.

Billee’s wish came true — just in time

Our condolences go out to the White-Hannon family from Paihia whose daughter Billee 5 (pictured right), lost her fight with acute myloid leukemia recently.

Billee and her family were regulars at our House for over a year, since she was diagnosed in April 2008 (read about Billee’s journey).

There was much excitement in early June as Billee’s favourite cartoon character SpongeBob arrived at the House to personally deliver a Maui campervan, gifted to her family by the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

The surprise gift was in response to Billee’s wish for a family holiday in a campervan, travelling around the North Island to visit her friends and family. The wish was granted urgently because of Billie’s ill health, and she greatly enjoyed her special trip.

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