The Lung Foundation of Saskatchewan Announces $150,000 Gift to Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan
The Lung Foundation of Saskatchewan is proud to announce a $150,000 gift to Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan (RMH SK), with support directed toward the new Ronald McDonald Houses in Prince Albert and Regina. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to reducing barriers for Saskatchewan families and helping parents and caregivers remain close to their children while they receive medical care. The connection to lung health is significant. Since 2015, 12% of the families supported by RMH SK have been there because their child was experiencing a complex respiratory or pulmonary illness or disease. This includes families with babies whose lungs need additional time to develop and children navigating conditions such as RSV, bronchitis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and other complex respiratory illnesses.
For these families, having access to a place to stay, meals and a supportive community can ease some of the practical and financial pressures that come with travelling for a child’s care and allow families to focus on what matters most — their child.
The investment in the Prince Albert House is particularly meaningful for families in northern Saskatchewan, where distance and access to health services can create additional challenges. Expanding Ronald McDonald House services into Prince Albert will help bring family-centred support closer to northern communities, while the Regina House will strengthen access for families throughout southern Saskatchewan.
“This partnership represents the direction we see Lung Saskatchewan and The Lung Foundation continuing to evolve toward — bringing organizations together in new ways to provide practical, meaningful support shaped by the real experiences of patients and families,” said Erin Kuan, President and CEO of Lung Saskatchewan. “We know that families in rural, remote and northern communities can face added barriers when a child requires specialized care. Supporting Ronald McDonald Houses in both Prince Albert and Regina is an opportunity to help reduce some of those barriers and ensure more Saskatchewan families can stay together and close to care.”
The support will also extend beyond a family’s stay at Ronald McDonald House. When there is an identified need, Lung Saskatchewan will provide families with a HEPA air purifier for their home, helping improve indoor air quality and ensuring the cost of cleaner air is one less barrier when their child returns home.
“We are thrilled with the investment from Lung Saskatchewan and the Lung Foundation of Saskatchewan to further support families throughout this province. With Lung’s significant contribution we are closing the gap for healthcare supports in this province, enabling families to stay close while their children with complex respiratory and pulmonary conditions undergo medical care in a nearby facility. As we work together with partners like Lung Saskatchewan and The Lung Foundation of Saskatchewan, so many more families will be supported as together we build a stronger community of care,” said Tammy Forrester, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan.
The gift is an example of an evolving approach to lung health — one that extends beyond traditional education and programs. Through partnerships, investment and support grounded in lived experience, Lung Saskatchewan and The Lung Foundation aim to meet people where they are and respond to the practical needs that can make a meaningful difference in their health journey.
PHOTO CAPTION
L–R: Erin Kuan, President and CEO of Lung Saskatchewan; Tammy Forrester, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan; and Matthew Flath, Board Chair of The Lung Foundation of Saskatchewan.
