Submitted By RMHC
Families across northwestern Ontario have always relied on the 14 unit Ronald McDonald House in Winnipeg and now a new and improved home will be available to those needing medical treatment.
Construction is underway on the 40 bed facility.
Officials are still 20% short of their fundraising goal.
This has prompted Kenora’s Lynda Moncrief to come forward to talk about the importance of the home to help families with sick kids in northwestern Ontario.
Lynda and her son Dustin have relied on the exisiting facility.
In 2018, the 17-year-old was diagnosed with an extremely rare type of brain cancer but has since recovered and is now attending college.
Lynda says, “Became a really important part of our life. I often call it ‘The home that love built’ and it certainly was our beacon during our darkest days. To be able to walk into a home to have a shower, a home-cooked meal, just a feeling of coming home after a tough day.”
She adds, “I could run there just to grab a quick shower and run back to an appointment or just sit with Dustin. So I’ve been wanting to be an advocate for Ronald McDonald House because it did have such a powerful and incredible impact on our life.”
Lynda stresses, “It’s just incredible. There’s nothing comparable between that and having to stay in a hotel or sleep on the chair beside your sons or child’s bed. So I am forever indebted to them.”
Lynda Moncrief adds another benefit of the home is sharing experiences and healing with others.
“We all had our unique stories but we all came together with one common thread and that being a sick child, or an unborn child, or a premature child.”
Lynda also acknowledged the support they received through a Go Fund Me page.
“The way the Dryden community and all of northwestern Ontario, Kenora of course, came through was just unbelievable. I will never forget the Dryden Junior Football team.”
Lynda notes, “They pulled together, my son was a football player, and they pulled together and did fundraising for Dustin too. So that was incredible!”
Ronald McDonald House Charities Manitoba supports 120 to 150 families from Northwestern Ontario.
To hear more about the heartwarming story and the recovery Dustin Moncrief, visit the Audio link below.
