Ronald McDonald House Auckland Trust bolsters accommodation

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Ronald McDonald House Auckland Trust bolsters accommodation for families

- Prime Minister John Key opens a new $7m family accommodation facility – Ronald McDonald House Auckland, Grafton Mews.

Auckland, 5 May 2011 – Parents of children having treatment at Starship Children’s Hospital will have one less thing to worry about thanks to the opening of Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Auckland Trust’s newest family accommodation facility, Grafton Mews.

Grafton Mews has 18 rooms including two transplant units, customised disabled rooms, standard rooms, laundries, living areas and a playground. In total the RMH Auckland Trust now has 79 rooms available to referred families, the largest room capacity in Australasia, with a further 20 rooms planned.

The RMH Auckland Trust provides accommodation and support for families from anywhere in New Zealand, whose children have to be in Auckland for treatment at Starship Children’s Hospital.

“What the facility provides goes way beyond just accommodation,” says Wayne Howett, CEO, RMH Auckland Trust.

“The House provides comfort and a safe environment for families during what can be a highly stressful time. It enables them to be together and for families to draw strength from others who are on a similar journey”.

In 2010 the Trust provided over 23,000 room nights to families. In 2011 this is expected to increase to over 24,000 and the new Grafton Mews will assist in meeting this demand.

It costs on average $120 per night to provide accommodation and some meals, however there is no charge for referred families to stay at any of the three Auckland facilities.

One family that is grateful for Ronald McDonald House Auckland is the Utting-Parker family. “At first I was scared about coming to Auckland, my son’s treatments and the unknowns, but Ronald McDonald House Auckland has been such a big help,” says mother Olivia Utting-Parker.

“We now know how lucky we are to have this place. The fact that we have somewhere close which is safe so we don’t have to worry about the kids makes all the difference. The House has helped us to do what we needed to do and supported us whilst we were going through it.”

Opened by Prime Minister John Key, phase one of the development including purchasing the building and the refurbishment of the first wing cost $7m. Brookfield Multiplex undertook the construction that was delivered on time and on budget.

“Our service could not exist without the support of over 600 volunteers, generous donors, corporate partners and community groups,” says Wayne Howett. “ Yet there is still a significant need for more involvement from donors and supporters to complete the Grafton Mews project”.

The phase one building of Grafton Mews was made possible with the generous support of donors, corporate partners, community service groups, Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand, the A+ Trust and Brookfield Multiplex.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is the philanthropic arm of McDonald’s.

ENDS

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