Families celebrate Raya at their home-away-from-home

What say you on the issue below?

MORE than 10 families gathered at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (PPUKM) to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri together with orphans from Rumah Bakti Nur Syaheera, employees of McDonald’s Malaysia and PPUKM, RMH partners and members of the media.

They comprised parents and children who previously stayed and are currently staying at RMH.

Apart from a sumptuous feast, guests were brought on a tour around the house while the children and orphans were entertained with a special appearance by Ronald McDonald during the Hari Raya open house.

All together now: Fadilah (fifth from right) and Ronald McDonald House Charities Malaysia president Chan Chee Chin with children staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

In keeping with the spirit of giving and sharing during Hari Raya, Ronald McDonald House Charities Malaysia also presented a cheque for RM3,000 towards the purchase of books for the library at Rumah Bakti Nur Syaheera.

Since 1999, more than 400 seriously ill children have found support and comfort by simply being close with their families at the house during their treatment in PPUKM.

The costs of paediatric medical treatment can be extensive for some families, and staying in hotels or motels would only add to their financial burden and emotional distress. RMH, which is situated within the compounds of PPUKM, allows families to spend more time together with their children who are undergoing treatment for just a small fee – RM5 a night.

“The Ronald McDonald House is a ‘home-away-from-home’ temporary lodging facility for families of seriously ill children being treated in PPUKM. I urge families to make use of this facility as it will tremendously lessen their burden of commuting and ease their financial worries while supporting their children who are seeking treatment,” said Ronald McDonald House-PPUKM chairperson Datin Fadilah Othman.

Built in 1999, the RM2mil Ronald McDonald House is a 19-bedroom facility. All rooms are triple-bedded with attached bathrooms and include a kitchen, children’s playroom, laundry area, surau and a TV lounge.

Extensive renovations have been done over the years, staying true to its tagline “The Home That Love Built”.

“Our family truly found comfort during our stay in RMH three years ago while our child underwent her medical treatment in HUKM. The homely environment of the house and staying with other families who were going through the same situation gave us the strength and support that we needed to help our daughter Auni Anisa Rizal recover from her condition,” said Jamilah Abdul Wahab.