RMHC New Zealand's Charity Campaign Encourages Kiwis to #BuildAFort for Families in Need

All you need is a sheet, four chairs, and a cosy blanket to make a difference these school holidays. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) New Zealand has launched a campaign via DDB NZ encouraging families to get together to build a fort.

The charity has issued a challenge to families across the country to get involved, build their own special fort and ask their friends to do the same. The aim is many forts will raise awareness of the family togetherness that RMHC New Zealand provides when a child is in hospital away from home. Once you’ve built your masterpiece, share a photo of the fort on social media with the hashtag #BuildAFort and tag @rmhcnewzealand.

RMHC New Zealand’s aim is that the campaign will also encourage donations, so they can continue to provide families with a child in hospital, vital support to stay close together at a time when they need each other the most.

Says Wayne Howett, CEO, RMHC New Zealand: “Please join us to help raise awareness of the work RMHC New Zealand does and drive donations to ensure families like mine and yours have what they need most when their lives are turned upside down. Last year, RMHC New Zealand helped over 4,300 families – more than we ever have since opening our doors almost 30 years ago, and this year is already shaping up to be even busier.”

He adds that #BuildAFort touches on special family moments and spending time together, as well as having an ultimate feel good factor of making a true difference.

Greer Feck, an 11 year old girl from Dannevirke is the face of the campaign. Greer and her family know first-hand the difference RMHC New Zealand makes. When Greer was just 14 months old, she was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumour on her spinal cord and had to be treated by doctors in Wellington Hospital, more than 200 km away from home. The family were so reassured to hear they could all stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Wellington, right across the road from the hospital.

Ronald McDonald House is like Greer’s second home, as her family also stayed in the Auckland House while she underwent major surgery at the hospital. She understands the important service that the public’s generosity helps provide, so when approached to star in RMHC New Zealand’s #BuildAFort campaign, Greer was extremely excited. It meant she got to visit Ronald McDonald House for a different reason than her ongoing medical check-ups.

This year, the charity aims to raise $320,000 in April and May for their Family Appeal, to allow them to continue to provide essential support to families when they need it most, including comfortable ensuite bedrooms to sleep in, nourishing meals and a friendly ear to listen at the end of a long day on the hospital ward.

For more information about the #BuildAFort campaign please visit buildafort.org.nz.

To donate, text FORT to 4483 (to donate $3), or visit www.rmhc.org.nz/donate.