Inland Empire residents and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC) will lace up their shoes on April 8th and join together in support of critically ill children and their families at the annual Inland Empire Walk for Kids, a fun, family-friendly 5k (3.1 miles) event that raises funds for the life-changing services provided by the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House. With a fundraising goal of $250K, 100 percent of the money raised goes directly to serving local families right here in the community, continuing its mission to provide a “home away from home” when it’s needed most – enabling families to stay near their hospitalized child at little to no cost. No eligible family is ever turned away due to inability to pay.
This year’s Walk will also offer on-site experiences including family-friendly carnival games, activities, Kids Zones, food, music and more.
The IERMH houses almost 1,000 families per year including The Gongora Family, this year’s Inland Empire Walk for Kids Ambassador Family. The Gongora Family experienced a difficult time when their daughter Jhené Amerie arrived 9 weeks early due to a full placenta abruption. Jhené was born near death. Doctors informed the family that Jhené would not live past 3 days and they should begin making arrangements. However, Jhené kept fighting and 45 days later the family was able to take her home.
The Gongora Family spent 30 days at the IERMH during what they describe as one of the darkest and most stressful moments of their lives. The House truly was a home away from home for the family, “Our experience at the Loma Linda house lifted our spirits, it meant a lot to our family to know that people genuinely cared about our circumstances and wanted to help” says father Kareem Gongora.
Now celebrating over 40 years of service, RMHCSC has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and families across Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Through its six Ronald McDonald Houses® in Bakersfield, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange and Pasadena and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms®, the Chapter helps families with critically-ill children stay together while connecting them with others facing similar challenges. The Chapter also operates the cost-free, medically supervised Camp Ronald McDonald For Good Times®, helping ill children and their siblings rediscover childhood and develop the self-esteem and self-efficacy often lost as a result of the disease.