Facing a serious illness is bad enough, but if you are a child and far from home, it is confusing, frightening and lonely as well. Having family around is a must!

Many families coping with a seriously ill child and trying to meet the demands of other family members, also have to deal with the difficulties of staying in an unfamiliar city. It can be overwhelming. That's where Ronald McDonald House helps, easing some of the practical worries. By providing a 'home away from home ' in a positive and supportive environment, families can concentrate on their child's recovery. That is why Ronald McDonald House is known as 'the house that helps to chase the clouds away'.

RMH South Island Trust is an independent registered charitable trust established to help and support South Island children and their families. The Trust is managed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, a small staff and many volunteers.

The House receives no government funding and although some funds are received via the Ministry of Health's Travel and Accommodation Scheme for eligible families, the bulk of the house's expenses are met by grants, public donations and corporate sponsorship.

McDonald's Restaurants Ltd supports the house through its own charity, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), which provided assistance with the purchase of the land for the building and continues to support day-to-day operations with an annual operating grant.

Costs are kept to a minimum through generous corporate sponsorship and the unstinting work of many volunteers.

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