Keeping families together BHP donates 200000 to the Ronald ...

At BHP, we know our teams are the strongest when we come together in support of one another, and we believe the same holds true for the communities we live and operate in. For this reason, we are proud to donate CAD$200,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan (RMH-SK) Miles to Go campaign. 

RMH-SK Ronald McDonald Houses offer a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for pediatric patients and their families who need to travel outside of their home communities to receive medical care. 

Our investment will contribute to the construction of Ronald McDonald Houses in Regina and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, allowing families to stick together when they need it the most. As part of our donation, we will also support a family guest room at the new location in Regina, where a recent expansion of pediatric services at Regina General Hospital is estimated to lead to approximately 320 additional overnight stays for young patients every year. 

“At BHP, we believe in supporting the communities where we live and work. Contributing to the campaign to bring a Ronald McDonald House to Regina is an important step in helping families across Saskatchewan access the care and support they need during some of the most challenging times in their lives,” said Karina Gistelinck, BHP’s Asset President Potash. “We are proud to be able to support a guest room at the new location that will serve as a home away from home for families, allowing them to focus on what matters most—the health and well-being of their children.” 

Currently, the only Ronald McDonald House in the province is in Saskatoon and serves just 20-30% of the pediatric families in Saskatchewan who need support. The new, 20-room location in Regina will substantially expand these vital services, with the capacity to provide support for around 820 families each year, including facilities for cooking, dining, relaxation, play, laundry, and socializing and community connection. 

“This gift from BHP to the future RMHC-SK Regina House is a significant contribution enabling family centred care and support to families that are traveling throughout Southern Saskatchewan for the medical needs of their child or children. We are grateful that BHP has decided to become a community partner with us in support to Saskatchewan families. Together we are building a home to keep families close,” said Tammy Forrester, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan. 

The campaign follows a RMHC-SK assessment that identified a lack of adequate support for families in Saskatchewan's southern and northern regions during a child's illness, where a family can expect to incur nearly CAD$3,600 in out-of-pocket expenses to be by the side of their sick child for just one seven-day hospital stay.