Ryder's story

At the toughest time imaginable, Ronald McDonald House gave Ryder and his family a chance to be together at their home-away-from- home.

Thank you for keeping families together

Raised on a remote NSW cotton station, Ryder, 8, was diagnosed with leukaemia – but life-saving treatment was nine-and-a-half hours away.

Farming families like Ryder’s don’t have access to anywhere near the range of health services available in Australia’s cities.

The strain of travelling long distances for treatment. Often families are split apart for months, with one parent at the hospital supporting their sick child and the other at home, caring for siblings.

But thanks to you, Ryder, his parents, Chris and Sammi and his three-year-old brother Ollie secured a place at Ronald McDonald House Randwick, just footsteps from his hospital.

At the toughest time imaginable, Ronald McDonald House gave Ryder and his family a chance to be together at their home-away-from- home. At RMHC, we understand that keeping families together when a child is seriously ill is vital, so they can get the critical emotional support they need to ensure the best outcome possible for their child.

The chance to play with his brother, cuddle his mum and read a book with his dad whenever he wanted, made having chemotherapy far less traumatic for Ryder.

Ryder with his family

Families stay free-of-charge at our Ronald McDonald Houses, so that’s why the support of our generous donors is so important.

“We lived between the hospital and Ronald McDonald House on and off for two-and-a-half months. We’re so lucky – we would have been stuck without it.” - Sammi, Ryder's mum