Southern California Laces Up As Walk For Kids Returns, Benefitting Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Southern California

Annual 5K Fundraising Event Raises Over $2 Million to Keep Families with Critically-ill Children Close, Helping Them Heal Together

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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California

Apr 12, 2015, 12:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, April 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of walkers laced up to support the annual Walk for Kids 5K (3.1 mile) pledge event held simultaneously across four locations on Sunday, April 12, 2015. The walk raised awareness of and funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC), which provides family-centered care programs, like Ronald McDonald House, that support the critical needs of children and families. Thousands turned out to support the Chapter's six Ronald McDonald Houses, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times helping to raise more $2 million.

The event took place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Exposition Park in Los Angeles, Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario and Shoreline Park in Long Beach. A fifth Walk for Kids event will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at California Living Museum in Bakersfield. Funds will be used to provide vital accommodation resources that keep families close by and together while their child receives life-saving medical treatment.

"The excitement and passion displayed at Walk for Kids is a powerful reminder of the need for programs like Ronald McDonald House and the difference they make during an unimaginable time," said Vince Bryson, chief executive officer, RMHCSC. "It's because of the support of individuals and businesses, coupled with our incredible partnership with McDonald's that we're able to keep thousands of families close by and together when it matters most. Communities have truly rallied behind these programs so we can ensure children and families get the support they need."

Last year, over 20,000 participants representing more than 1,000 spirited teams stepped up to help raise more than $2.2 million for RMHCSC programs. Located in Los Angeles, Orange, Long Beach, Loma Linda, Pasadena and Bakersfield, the Ronald McDonald House program provides a "home-away-from-home" near local hospitals, keeping families just steps from their child while they receive treatment and critical care. Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times provides children with cancer and their siblings a soothing outdoor environment to process the diagnosis and restore self-esteem and confidence at no cost. Two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in CHOC Children's at Mission in Mission Viejo and CHOC Children's in Orange serve as an oasis inside the hospital for parents with children in the pediatric intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California
For more than 35 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (RMHCSC) has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and families across Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. RMHCSC helps families with critically-ill children stay together, connecting them with others facing similar challenges through its six Ronald McDonald Houses® in Bakersfield, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange and Pasadena and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms®. One of the few chapters to operate a cost-free, medically supervised Camp Ronald McDonald For Good Times®, RMHCSC helps children with cancer and their siblings rediscover childhood and develop the self-esteem and self-efficacy often lost as a result of the disease. The organization also provides funding through its Community Grants Board to deserving non-profits that improve the lives of children and funds four college scholarship programs that help exemplary high school students pursue the education of their dreams. More information about RMHCSC and its programs can be found at www.rmhcsc.org or on www.Facebook.com/RMHCSoCal and www.Twitter.com/RMHC_SoCal.