Rotorua family grateful for normalcy Ronald McDonald House provided

Every year more than 3700 families benefit from the work of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

As well as the Rotorua retreat, the charity runs houses in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington which offer accommodation while families are in hospital.

The annual appeal plays a huge part in helping keep these houses open, the charity's chief executive Wayne Howett said.

The Ronald McDonald Annual Appeal started on Monday and runs until Sunday . The annual street appeal is on today. "The whole idea is to raise an extra $200,000 a year. The number of families we support continues to go up and up," Howett said.

"Right now there are more than 120 families staying with us. These donations help those families stay together."

The Kupa family became one of those families when two years ago a cancerous mass was found in 4-year-old Caleb's stomach.

Rachael and her husband Scott had taken Caleb, now 6, to Rotorua Hospital for tests because of ongoing stomach pains when the mass was found.

"We drove up to Auckland not knowing anything about Ronald McDonald House," Rachael said.

Their son was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma and faced months of intensive treatment.

Over the next two years, the family split their time between their home in Reporoa and the house in Auckland.

Scott said the family had spent 242 nights in the house, and counting, as Caleb still had to go to hospital every three months for check ups.

Rachael Kupa and son Caleb, 6, spend a lot of time at Ronald McDonald House every month for regular checks to make sure Caleb is clear of cancer. PHOTO/JASON OXENHAM

"We don't know what we would have done without them. I remember the first day there they were welcoming from the word go. They found a room for us and we've become family," he said.

Rachael said being able to stay at the house took the pressure off.

"The generosity is truly overwhelming," she said.

Scott said the house was also a chance for the whole family to be together, including with Caleb's brother Izak, 5.

"We'd have all of us together and it was nice to have that normality in the middle of what would have been a s*** situation."

The Kupa family wanted to encourage people to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"Nobody knows what's around the corner. It can happen to anybody. I would never have imagined we'd end up there." Rachael said.

Howett said running Ronald McDonald House Charities cost more than $5 million a year.

"We aim to support families when their child is away from home. Sometimes the best medicine is a hug or kiss from mum or dad or a sister or brother."

More than 100 families from the Lakes District Health Board area stayed at a Ronald McDonald House for a combined 1200 nights last year.

Even if the houses are full, when a family in need shows up they are accommodated.

In March, there were 27 families staying at hotels paid for by the charity, Howett said.

"It's all about keeping families together."

How to donate:
- To donate $3, text TOGETHER to 4483.
- Online at rmhc.org.nz/donate.
- Street appeal: Show your support for RMHC by donating coins to street collectors in blue bibs on May 11.