Ronald McDonald House Auckland (RMHA) provides free accommodation and support for families whose children require specialist medical treatment at the National Children’s Hospital. G.J. Gardner Homes have been supporting RMHA since 2007, and in addition to financial support, run an art competition each year in an effort to bring extra joy to the house. This year the children were invited to paint “their super hero”; anything from Superman, cartoons, Doctors, parents, or whatever their imagination wanted! Children staying at RMHA and their siblings could enter. With age groups of: 5-8, 9-11, 12-16. See below for a selection of the canvas artwork.
This year is extra special for RMHA, with the charity celebrating its 21st year in New Zealand. RMHA first opened its doors on October 13th 1994, with only 10 bedrooms. Twenty one years on they now house 80 Kiwi families each night, with an extra 14 more rooms being built right now – So for RMHA 21st year was a milestone worthy of a large celebration!
RMHA’s special day started early with a beautiful birthday breakfast for the House families, recorded and broadcasted live on TVNZ’s Breakfast show. The day of celebrations continued in the afternoon with Ronald McDonald himself providing some fun family entertainment with a magic show, as well as face painting, music, presents and a giant 21 piñata! The evening was topped off with a beautiful dinner made and served by RMHA volunteers.
Over the past twenty-one years, RMHA has housed tens of thousands of families from all across the country. Last year more than 2,000 Kiwi families made RMHA their ‘home away from home’ throughout their child’s medical journey. RMHA keeps families together so that they find the strength to get through whatever the next few days, weeks or months may hold for them.
Twenty-one years of RMHA have gone by so fast – and RMHA, along with all of its supporters, is ready for the many years to come, continuing to work tirelessly for each and every Kiwi family that needs care and support during their hours of need.