Walk for Kids to Raise Funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its commitment to providing comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California announced today it will host three simultaneous Walk for Kids events on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 8 a.m. to raise funds for its Ronald McDonald Houses in Loma Linda, Los Angeles, Orange and Pasadena, and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times.  

Walk for Kids is a non-competitive 5k pledge event for individuals at all fitness levels, which will take place at the following locations: Honda Center (2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, Calif., 92806); Universal Studios Backlot (3800 Barham Blvd. Gate 4, Los Angeles, Calif., 90068); and Victoria Gardens (12505 N. Main St., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 91739).  Individuals and teams representing businesses, community groups, churches, families and friends are encouraged to sign-up to participate at www.rmhcsc.org.  No minimum donation is required.

Ronald McDonald Houses offer low cost, and often free, temporary housing for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at adjacent hospitals and medical centers. Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times provides children with cancer an opportunity to process their diagnosis and restore their self-esteem while learning independence and self-reliance in the therapeutic environment of the great outdoors.

"These difficult economic times have brought with them a greater need for the services our organization provides," said Nicole Rubin, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. "It is our hope that individuals donate and participate in Walk for Kids so we can continue to provide vital programs and services to families with hospitalized or seriously ill children."

A study by the Unihealth Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization whose mission is to support and facilitate activities that significantly improve the health and well being of individuals and communities within its service area, shows that Ronald McDonald Houses help ensure families have access to the best medical care by reducing barriers that may exist if a family had to drive long distances every day to visit their child.  The Houses also allow families to remain actively involved in their child's care and, because the parents are present, research shows that children actually heal faster and cope better with their diagnoses.  

Last year, the programs offered by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California served more than 17,000 people. Through its Walk for Kids events, the charity hopes to raise more than $500,000 which will be used to fund overnight stays at Ronald McDonald Houses and visits to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times for children with cancer, and other serious illnesses, and their families.

For more than 30 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California has been dedicated to creating a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy through the operation of Ronald McDonald Houses, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a Community Grants Board and four scholarship programs.  For more information on how Ronald McDonald House Charities provides comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California, visit www.rmhcsc.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/RMHC_SoCal.

SOURCE Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California