Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation supporting regional families through our Regional Assistance Fund

Imagine your fear as your family is involved in a terrible car accident and your children are rushed to PMH, one of them critical with suspected brain and spinal injuries. Or your feelings of isolation as you spend yet another Christmas away from your family and friends back home in regional WA because your child is too unwell to be more than 20 minutes’ drive from PMH. Or your despair as you sit beside your child’s bed in PMH for the 340^th night so, yet again, aren’t able to kiss your other children who at home goodnight, or read them a bedtime story. Countless parents of children cared for at PMH every day do not have to imagine these situations because they are living them. This is their reality. (Dean, pictured above, in PMH after a car accident)

Ethan and his mother

Families from outside the Perth metropolitan area face the added stress of being away from their usual support networks. Feelings of isolation and fear for their child in hospital, and guilt about the children they have left at home with family or friends often prevail. For many, there is also the worry of lost wages accompanied by the additional costs of accommodation, meals and generally being away from home.

Now imagine your immense relief when you are told that thanks to Mineral Resources Limited (MRL) and Radio West , the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation Regional Assistance Fund will cover your accommodation costs while you are in Perth with your child at PMH.

Over the past four years, MRL and Radio West have helped to support over 650 families through the PCH Foundation Regional Assistance Fund, alleviating some the financial strain they are under whilst their child is unwell.

The fund has had a significant and profound impact on so many families:

“If it wasn’t for the support we receive from MRL and the Regional Assistance Fund, I wouldn’t have been able to spend much, if any, time with my other children. The fund makes it possible for us to be together as a family when Charlotte is in hospital.” – Charlotte’s family

Hilary

“We seem to be at PMH every other week and have spent 30 weeks at the hospital despite Hilary only being 58 weeks old. MRL’s support of the Regional Assistance Fund has been a blessing for our family. It takes away a lot of the stress … we don’t have to worry about huge accommodation costs on top of everything else and can focus on Hilary’s health.” – Hilary’s family

“We are from NZ and don’t have family here in Australia. So for the month Ethan and I were in PMH, my husband had to reduce his hours so he could look after our four year old daughter, Sharleigha. This meant taking a cut in wages. I really don’t know how we would have coped without the Regional Assistance Fund. It’s a great program that gives families like ours peace of mind during an incredibly difficult time.” – Ethan’s family

This is just one example of how Foundation donors are making a huge and lasting impact through the Foundation. The PCH Foundation Regional Assistance Program is administered through the Social Work Department at PMH.