RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES IN FINLAND
The Ronald McDonald House Charities was established in 1996. Its co-operation partners include the Association of the Parents of HUCS Pediatric Cancer Patients, Heart Children’s and Adults Association as well as the HUCH Children’s Hospital, which directs patient families to the House.
The foundation stone of the Ronald McDonald House in Helsinki was laid on 17 August 1999. The first families were received in February 2002. The House, situated in the vicinity of the HUCH Children’s Hospital, is a homelike accommodation alternative for chronically ill children receiving treatment at the hospital and their families.
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE IN HELSINKI
The site of the Ronald McDonald House is situated in the residential district of Meilahti, protected as a historically valuable area due to its culturally unique buildings and environment. The houses comply with the general town plan of the area and were built in accordance with traditional log building technique. The project was supervised also by the National Board of Antiquities. The House comprises three separate buildings with a total of 14 family rooms. Up till today 3 800 families have stayed in the House. Yearly occupancy is almost 90 %.
Being together is vital for the whole family
In Finland, the most demanding treatment of serious children’s diseases is centralized in the HUCH Children’s Hospital in Helsinki. Children and their families come from all parts of Finland and often need to stay for treatment and examinations for several days, weeks, or even months. “The presence of parents is very important and speeds up recovery. In such difficult situations, the families need a peaceful place to stay during the treatment periods”, says Eero Jokinen, Head of Division of Pediatrics from HUCH Children’s Hospital.
An important fund-raising form of the House Charities is the McHappy Day, organized at the McDonald’s Restaurants all over Finland, with activities for the whole family. Other fund-raising initiatives are box collections and special events organized with cooperation partners, for example the yearly charity golf competition.
Ronald McDonald House Ronald McDonald House Charities
Oksakoskenpolku 6 Paciuksenkatu 29
00250 Helsinki, Finland 00270 Helsinki, Finland
tel: +358-9-4780 1600 tel: +358-9-7256 7700
www.rml.fi
The international Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) was established in 1984 to raise funds and donate them for purposes that promote the well-being of children. The first Ronald McDonald House was built in Philadelphia already earlier, in 1974. During this time, the Houses have helped more than two million chronically ill
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