McDonald\u2019s South Africa and Ronald McDonald House South Africa have marked a significant milestone in their shared commitment to keeping families close during a child\u2019s medical journey, with a soil-turning ceremony signalling the next step towards the planned Ronald McDonald House Mother\u2019s Lodge at Chris Hani Baragwanath
\nAcademic Hospital.
\nThe proposed Family Lodge aims to address a practical challenge faced by families of hospitalised
\nchildren, access to safe, supportive accommodation close to the hospital. For families travelling long
\ndistances, the cost of transport and the demands of daily hospital visits can compound an already
\ndifficult experience. The Lodge is intended to ease these pressures, enabling parents and caregivers
\nto remain close to their children while they receive medical care.
\n\u201cEvery family deserves the opportunity to stay close to their sick child during the most difficult
\nmoments of their lives. The Mother\u2019s Lodge at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is an
\nimportant step towards making that possible. Through strong partnerships and collective
\ncommitment, we can ease the burden on families, restore dignity and ensure that no parent has to
\nface their child\u2019s medical journey alone,\u201d says Matshepo Msibi, CEO of Ronald McDonald House
\nSouth Africa.
\nThe need for accessible support is underscored by research published in the Journal of Transport and
\nSupply Chain Management, which highlights the financial pressure transport places on South African
\nhouseholds. The research reports that households spend an average of 16% of their total
\nexpenditure on transport, while transport costs account for approximately 29% of per capita
\nhousehold income in Gauteng, rising to between 40% and 50% in peripheral townships.
\nThe milestone coincides with Ronald McDonald House Charities South Africa\u2019s introduction of its
\nnew brand identity, Ronald McDonald House South Africa. While the organisation\u2019s identity evolves,
\nits purpose remains unchanged, keeping families close when they need it most.
\nAs RMH South Africa\u2019s founding and forever partner, McDonald\u2019s South Africa continues to support
\nthis mission through a long-standing commitment to family wellbeing and community impact. At
\nChris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms has
\nsupported 48,318 mothers by providing a welcoming space to rest, recharge and remain close to
\ntheir children during treatment. Meals and refreshments further help ease the practical pressures
\nfamilies face.<\/p>\n
The planned Mother\u2019s Lodge will build on this established support by offering accommodation inside
\nthe hospital grounds, helping families reduce daily travel demands and spend more time with their
\nchildren.
\n\u201cAt McDonald\u2019s South Africa, we believe our responsibility extends beyond our restaurants. As
\nRonald McDonald House South Africa\u2019s founding and forever partner, we are proud to support a
\nmission that makes a tangible difference in the lives of families. The Mother\u2019s Lodge represents what
\ncan be achieved when businesses, communities and partners work together around a shared
\npurpose,\u201d says Max Oliva, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald\u2019s South Africa.
\nFollowing the soil-turning ceremony, the project is targeting completion by March 2027. Reaching
\nthis milestone will require continued investment and collaboration across the private sector, civit
\nsociety, businesses, individuals and communities.
\nThe Buy-a-Brick fundraising initiative offers South Africans a tangible way to contribute to the
\nproject. Corporate partners and members of the public are encouraged to support the initiative,
\nshare its message and help mobilise the resources needed to bring the Mother\u2019s Lodge to
\ncompletion.
\nThe project reflects the impact that can be achieved when partners unite around a shared purpose.
\nBeyond the construction of a facility, the ambition is to create a place where families can find
\npractical support, comfort and dignity while remaining close to their children during some of life\u2019s
\nmost challenging moments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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