Meet the Changs. Since three-year-old Chloe Chang was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, her family has spent 106 nights at Ronald McDonald House New Zealand (RMHC NZ).
They are just one of many families who have experienced first-hand the difference Ronald McDonald House New Zealand can make to the lives of families who have had their world turned upside down.
Families staying at the home are already under a tremendous amount of stress, and when the Alert Level Four lockdown restrictions were implemented this year, additional support was needed to ensure they can continue to focus on what is important to them without the added pressures.
With the communal kitchens closed, nib provided an extra $20,000 to our partner, RMHC NZ, to allow them to fit each room out with a fridge, kettle toaster and microwave to ensure families could function safely in their rooms. A further 12 rooms were also supplied with kettles for short stay families, so social distancing could be maintained.
This is in addition to our current sponsorship of three long-stay rooms at RMHC New Zealand’s Auckland and Wellington houses.
In the video below, you’ll hear from the Changs and why our ongoing support is so important to them and many others in a similar situation.
Being a rugby mad family, we also organised a special surprise visit from Auckland Blues’ players, Beauden Barrett, James Tucker and Tony Lamborn!
RMHC New Zealand saves families over NZD$11 million each year in accommodation, meal and other costs, while their child is staying in a hospital away from home. Last year, they provided more than 4,600 families with free accommodation and support - the busiest year since it opened in New Zealand almost 30 years ago.
