Ace of Hope: How Tennis Serves Up Courage for Ronald McDonald House Kids
When Ronald McDonald House Kids Meet Tennis: Fighting Back More Courageously to Destiny
When fate unexpectedly strikes a heavy and dangerous ball, how do we swing the racket and fight back?
In response to the sudden illness, the lives of seriously ill children seem to have experienced a tennis match: just like on the court of a tennis match, they swing the racket and hit the ball back hard – this is the Ronald McDonald House The children set an example with their actions when facing the challenges of disease.
Join hands with the International Women’s Tennis Association to support medical treatment for children living in different places
Since the Ronald McDonald House in Beijing was officially opened on September 9, 2021, it has supported more than 252 families of children seeking medical treatment in other places through physical charity.
On September 24, on the third anniversary of the establishment of the Ronald McDonald House in Beijing, we jointly launched a series of public welfare themed activities of “Resilient Childhood, Courage to Move Forward on the Net” with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and presented the children’s fight against the epidemic in the form of an exhibition. The life experiences of illness, optimism and strength focus on the brave stories that happened in the McDonald House in Beijing in the past.
As the first “love partner” of Ronald McDonald House in the sports field, the WTA joins hands with Ronald McDonald House to provide support for children seeking medical treatment in other places.
Beijing Ronald McDonald House and the International Women’s Tennis Association launch a series of charity-themed activities
“Ronald McDonald’s House” is a global public welfare project that aims to provide living space close to the hospital for families with children who have difficulty seeking medical treatment in other places, achieve “family-centered” care and care, and create a “home away from home.” Through refined, high-standard, and warm operation management, we enrich and warm the medical life of families with children.
The Ronald McDonald House in Beijing is just across the street from Beijing Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University. It has a construction area of about 860 square meters and a total of 10 family houses. Families of needy children who are seeking medical treatment at Beijing Children’s Hospital can apply for accommodation. To date, the Ronald McDonald House in Beijing has provided more than 9,200 peaceful nights of sleep to families with children.
In 2006, McDonald’s China cooperated with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to establish the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Ronald McDonald House Charitable Fund (referred to as the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation). So far, China Mai Fund has promoted the opening of Ronald McDonald Houses in three cities: Changsha, Shanghai and Beijing. Now, for every Happy Meal sold at a McDonald’s restaurant, 0.5 yuan will be donated to support the construction and operation of the Ronald McDonald House.
Scientific arrangements to solve the “hidden pain” of families with children
“Families with seriously ill children face multiple difficulties. When you see the indwelling needles on the children, you can know the pain they are suffering; from the frowning faces of the parents, you can know the dual financial and mental pressure that the parents are under.” Li Huiru, director of the Ronald McDonald House in Beijing, told Philanthropy Times.
In order to relieve the pressure on families with children, the walls of the Ronald McDonald House in Beijing outline the four seasons of Beijing. The colorful wall paintings and decorations create a warm atmosphere of “Together, we are home”.
However, all that can be seen is the explicit pain, and what needs more attention is the “hidden pain” suffered by the children’s families. From residence to hospital, and from hospital to residence, the two-point and front-line life makes children and parents Lack of social interaction and mental loneliness; healthy children from second- and third-child families have become left-behind children in their hometowns who lack the company of their parents.
In order to solve the above problems, the Ronald McDonald House has prepared a separate family room for families with children. The beds in the room can accommodate two adults and two children at the same time. During the winter and summer vacations, families with multiple children can stay at the Ronald McDonald House. Realize the true reunion of the family. “At most, there were 16 children in ten family rooms.” Li Huiru said.
Families can use shared kitchens, shared restaurants, reading rooms, laundry rooms and other facilities. Ronald McDonald House provides more than 30 categories of daily necessities for families. At the same time, staff and volunteers provide yoga and aromatherapy for parents so that they can relax; they also organize festival parties, birthday parties, interest classes and other activities for families staying here. “Social workers from the Medical Social Work Department will also come from time to time to provide psychological lectures and various support activities for parents.” said Ma Wei, director of the Medical Social Work Department of Beijing Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University.
“By holding these activities, we hope that children can accompany each other, families can also receive support, and parents can release their emotions and stress, be more focused with their children, and face the challenge of the disease with more strength.” Li Huiru told Charity Times .
Ronald McDonald House Beijing
The fighting spirit of tennis players gives children with more positive energy
Gu Lei, chief impact officer of McDonald’s China and co-director of the Ronald McDonald House Charitable Fund Management Committee of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, said: “Beijing Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable and complete environment, colorful activities, and warm and meticulous services for children with disabilities and… Families bring practical support. The entity charity model requires the support of all sectors of society. With the assistance of the International Women’s Tennis Association, we hope to bring a different experience to the children; the fighting spirit and fighting spirit of the tennis players will also be used for the children. , parents bring more positive energy and strong beliefs.”
In the past three years, the International Women’s Tennis Association has supported the Ronald McDonald House in Beijing through material donations and invited children to watch the matches during the 2023 China Open. From September 24 to October 7, 2024, the public welfare theme exhibition “Resilient Childhood, Courage to Move Forward” will be jointly held at McDonald’s Beijing Macau Center Restaurant, using tennis as a link, and presenting a special tennis match , let more people understand the challenges and pressures faced by families of seriously ill children who seek medical treatment in other places, and feel that they still maintain an optimistic and strong spirit in the face of adversity.
“Resilient Childhood, Bravely Forward the Internet” theme exhibition
Chinese female tennis player Wang Xiyu donated her hair that she has grown for more than 2 years, which will be made into wigs and given to children at Ronald McDonald House who have lost their hair due to disease treatment. On September 25, China Open Charity Day, the International Women’s Tennis Association invited children and families from the Ronald McDonald House to watch the game live in the National Tennis Center’s sky room and interact with well-known tennis players up close.
The parent representative of the Ronald McDonald House, Yaoyao (pseudonym)’s father, said that the McDonald’s House is like a clear spring in the desert, bringing hope to the family when they are most helpless, and also giving the family the ability to overcome the disease. courage. My daughter Yaoyao was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma when she was in kindergarten last year at the age of 6.
“If fate gives you an unexpected blow, please keep fighting back, fighting, fighting.” I believe that everyone who sees this sentence on the wall of the theme exhibition will feel the unyielding power of children in fighting against diseases. .