The Optimist Club of Cornwall is teaming up with the Ottawa Ronald McDonald House

Content of the article

OTTAWA — A bedroom at Ottawa’s much-loved Ronald McDonald House now has an official connection in Cornwall.

Content of the article

The Optimist Club of Cornwall sponsored a bedroom at the facility, which is on the property of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Content of the article

Alex Tourangeau, along with his parents Cheryl and Claude Tourangeau – all three are members of the Optimist Club of Cornwall – delivered a $5,000 donation to RMH Ottawa, money raised through Optimist events such as the annual celebration, popular Ribfest in Lamoureux Park. every July.

“The Ronald McDonald House is a place that is near and dear to our hearts,” Cheryl Tourangeau said Monday. “It felt so good to come back to the house (last week) and see familiar faces.”

For many months, it was Tourangeau’s home away from home during Alex’s battle with cancer. The Tourangeaus spent 10 months there from July 2013 to April 2014. Alex — who is cancer-free and currently thriving at Bishop University in Lennoxville, Que. – had periodic treatments at CHEO until November 2016, so the family lived at RMDH in a prohibited manner for another two months and total.

Content of the article

Content of the article

Alex, 20, has completed the third year of his five-year co-educational program and will be teaching for the summer.

The RMDH dormitory sponsored by the Optimist Club is Room 4; the club has the right of first refusal, meaning they could renew their sponsorship of the hall next year for another year, but that will of course depend on the goodwill of the general public to continue to support events such as the Cornish Lifetime Charity BBQs. the warm weather months.

Cheryl Tourangeau said that previously, room sponsorship money went toward room renovations or new furniture. Nowadays, if the room is in good condition and well furnished, the money can go to one that needs attention.

Content of the article

The house has room for 14 families, but there is currently a major addition being completed in 2025 that will allow 22 more families to live there.

Optimist Club of Cornwall said “RMDH plays a vital role in keeping families together during some of the hardest days of their lives. We are honored to be a part of it.”

With only 16 children’s specialty hospitals in Canada, many families travel long distances to access medical treatment for their sick child. When families learn that their child is ill and requires hospitalization, they are forced to leave their homes, families, jobs and community support at a time when they need it most.

That’s where Ronald McDonald House Charities steps in, providing a place for families to stay together within walking distance of a children’s hospital.

Content of the article

Childhood cancer is the number one killer. 1 of children in Canada and worldwide. Although there has been some success in treatment protocols, 15 to 20% of children diagnosed will not survive.

Every year in Canada, about 1,700 children are diagnosed with cancer – about 65 of them become patients at CHEO. Of those who survive, two-thirds will develop side effects from either the disease or the treatments they receive, such as secondary cancers, infertility, growth problems, cognitive impairment, and heart problems.

RMDH Ottawa has welcomed almost 500 families from Cornwall since 1984; since the home opened, 10% of the families served have come from Cornwall. Families in Cornwall have spent a total of 19,200 nights at home, saving families in the city around 2.7 million driving kilometers over the nearly 40 years.

[email protected]

Content of the article