For Keri Topperwien this weekend will be bittersweet.
"Six years ago we set ourselves a target to become a transplant room sponsor.
"Since then The Dream Chaser Foundation has donated $95,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities and, for the next decade, will have naming rights of a transplant room.
"It's a huge milestone reached and it feels great to have got there."
As well as holding fundraising events, the foundation has Dream Chaser Guardians who donate $1 each week. The $1 is split between four charities supported by the Dream Chaser Foundation with one of the four being Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
"To actually have a room, to have a say in decorating the room and to be able to paint the door yellow [Chace's favourite colour and the colour of the foundation] is really awesome."
Joining the Topperwiens - Ryan, Keri, their two children Zane and Evie, and Ryan's parents Rod and Joy - will be foundation ambassadors Sol3 Mio and Pippa Wetzell.
Wayne Howett, chief executive of RMHC New Zealand, said he was extremely grateful to Ryan, Keri and the Dream Chaser Foundation for their incredible support in memory of their little boy.
"The room that they have selected is special to them as you can look out the window up to the hospital where Chace received treatment," Howett said.
"Their generous 10-year room sponsorship will ensure that families now as well as many in the future are able to stay in a comfortable 'home-away-from-home' while their child is in hospital."
As well as the opening the Dream Chaser Foundation will be sharing birthday love with children at Ronald McDonald House and at Starship Hospital.
"On Saturday and to celebrate Chace's birthday, we will be hosting a pizza and ice-cream night at Ronald McDonald House. And as part of our Sunshine week that happens twice a year, the children at Starship will each be getting a bundle of presents worth between $100 and $150 each."
This year the foundation has extended its generosity and each of the children at RMHC will also be getting a gift in memory of Chace.
"This week will be a crazy week. Because of privacy concerns and also to provide the most up-to-date list of patients, we don't know numbers until later in the week. Then we have a mad buying rush and a wrapping marathon before throwing everything into a horse float lent to us by Whakatāne Hire Centre and driving to Auckland.
"But it remains an honour to be able to do so."
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Supports families when their child is in a hospital away from home.
- In 2018 provided more than 4300 families with accommodation and support.
- Allows families to focus on their child by taking care of the practical things, relieving the stress of accommodation and food and more.
Source: rmhc.org.nz
2018 Statistics
- 4344 families hosted in 160 rooms
- 43,210 nights of accommodation provided
- Over $11 million saved for families in accommodation, meals and other costs
- It costs RMHC New Zealand $140 to provide a family with one night's accommodation.
