Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon (RMH BC) is delighted to announce the return of Step Up for Families, an annual campaign that raises funds to support BC and Yukon families seeking lifesaving medical treatment for their children. Held in April, the springtime initiative invites the community to assemble their families, friends and colleagues to run, walk, roll or cycle at least 73 kilometres throughout the month. All donations collected will support the 2,000 families per year who stay at RMH BC’s 73-bedroom House and Family Room at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Since 1983, RMH BC has provided comfort and housing to countless families who travel to Vancouver seeking life-saving treatment for their children – treatment that could take days, weeks or months to complete. The organization offers these families a home-away-from-home in a state-of-the-art, 73- bedroom House situated just steps from the BC Children’s Hospital. More than a place to sleep, the House welcomes families into a supportive ecosystem with amenities such as art and music therapy, comfortable accommodations and healthy meals.
This April, communities are invited to support these families during the third annual fitness-oriented Step Up for Families fundraiser. At RMH BC, it costs $150 per night to house a family – so, by reaching the minimum $150 “Gift a Night” fundraising goal, participants can help provide a night of comfort to a family facing a stressful situation far from their home. This year, RMH BC has set a fundraising goal to provide 1,000 nights of comfort to families relying on the House and Family Room.
Last year’s Step Up for Families was a huge success, engaging 317 participants from over 55 communities in BC and Yukon. Collectively, they took 60 million steps and tackled 48,000 kilometres – and, in doing so, raised $151,000 for RMH BC, gifting over 1,200 nights of comfort.
“Our goal this year for Step Up for Families is to raise 1,000 nights of accommodation, community and support for families staying at the House,” says Richard Pass, CEO of RMH BC. “We are grateful for our many supporters, from Whitehorse to White Rock, who we depend upon in order to fulfill our mission and commitment to be there for families when they must travel from their hometowns to Vancouver for critical treatment of a child.”
How to participate in Step Up for Families:
- Recruit your team by sharing the Step Up for Families toolkit with your family, friends or co-workers (or tackle the challenge solo!)
- Visit www.stepupforfamilies.ca to register and set up your fundraising page. Share the link with your team so they can join!
- Connect your account to Strava, or manually track your distances throughout April.
- Encourage your community to donate and help you raise a minimum of $150 to support a family for one night in the RMH BC House.
“Movement has a huge impact on mental health and how we are able to cope with stress,” says Jenna Morrison, Recreation Therapist at RMH BC. “From improved sleep and mood to decreased stress and anxiety, movement can bring us back to the present, so we are better able to focus on moving forward. For many of our families, movement is a tool that helps them to cope and stay grounded through the ups and downs.” To sign up for Step Up for Families or make a donation, visit www.stepupforfamilies.ca.
