The Estevan Bruins and McDonald’s will be teaming up this weekend for a fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.
McDonald’s in Estevan will be the game-night sponsor for the Bruins home game against the Humboldt Broncos on Jan. 25, and numerous initiatives will happen that night to support the house.
Chris and Tim Jenish, who are the franchisees for the Estevan McDonald’s, along with their family and their team, will be accompanied by Dorianne Geske for the night. Geske is the family service co-ordinator for Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan.
The Thompson family from Carnduff will also be on hand. Braden Thompson is a 13-year-old with cystic fibrosis (CF) and he and his family have been using the services of the house for many years. Attending the game will be Braden, his parents, Kelly and Tyler, and his sister Meegan, who is 17 years old and has also stayed at Ronald McDonald when receiving treatments or having appointments.
Kelly Thompson described the house as a home away from home.
“After being in the hospital with our son, and a long day in the hospital, it’s always nice to come back to a warm, cozy atmosphere with an amazing amount of support, and able to actually have a hot meal,” said Kelly Thompson.
She estimates that between the two children, the Thompson family has stayed there at least 20 times. And those stays aren’t necessarily for short periods of time, either.
“Sometimes it’s one or two nights, depending on if it’s just for appointments, but generally for us, we had to stay in there for up to 2 1/2 or three weeks at a time,” said Thompson. “Our son, when he is hospitalized … with cystic fibrosis, a general hospitalization is two weeks. They need a complete 14 days on antibiotics for a tuneup, as they call them.”
It also helps that the Ronald McDonald House is across the street from the Royal University Hospital.
People have to phone the Ronald McDonald House in advance to find out if there is availability. But it only costs $10 per night, and Thompson doesn’t know of any place that provides that kind of care for that price.
The kids who are staying at the house get along so well, she said, and everybody really cares for each other.
“They’re amazing. There’s a lot of the repeat guests, and there’s so many friendships made out of that. We’re all there to support each other,” said Thompson.
The staff and the fellow residents at the house can usually tell when a guest has had a bad day, so they’re quick to offer a hug. Or if someone is sitting there and feeling lost, it’s not abnormal for a mom or dad to allow someone to talk or vent.
She noted the Ronald McDonald House is funded by donations and fundraisers. To keep it up to code and safe for residents, they need to have fundraisers like the one that is happening in Estevan this weekend.
The fundraiser will be a busy night. Between the second and third period, there will be a live auction. One of the items available will be an Al MacInnis autographed game-worn 1998 NHL All Star Game jersey and an autographed Eddie Shack Toronto Maple Leafs jersey.
The Jenishes have had both jerseys framed, courtesy of Theresa Fuhr from Art Concepts Custom Framing.
McDonald’s Heart-shaped cookies will be for sale as well as Big Mac pins and Ronald McDonald socks. With any monetary donation, fans will receive an entry form for a raffle basket. All proceeds from the live auction, cookie sales or table sales and/or donations will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.
McDonald’s will also have giveaways during each period for fans.
