Time Danced:
817minutes
I'm Rivah and I’m dancing to help make a difference for sick kids!
My name is Rivah, and I'm 7 years old.
Seven years ago, I was born prematurely at 24 weeks gestation, weighing just 760 grams. I became critically ill and needed to be transferred to a better hospital for life-saving surgeries such as heart surgery and I contracted a terrible disease called NEC where it had rotted a part of my bowel resulting in needing a portion of it taken out and left with a stoma till I was strong enough and much bigger to have my stoma reversed. My mummy moved into a Ronald McDonald House right across the street to stay close to me so she could hold my hand and so I could feel her touch and presence. She was terrified and lonely, frequently in tears, but the Ronald McDonald House took great care of her. They treated her like family, made sure she had meals to maintain her health, and supported her on sad days, connecting her with additional resources. My mummy got to meet many wonderful people there—other strong parents like her. She discovered a new perspective on how critical these houses are for families with sick children, helping them stay connected during tough times. Without the Ronald McDonald House, my mummy wouldn’t have been able to afford to live nearby and visiting me daily would have been extremely challenging, leaving her alone to cope with immense stress. The House relieved much of her burden, allowing her to be strong for me during my illness. My mummy had to stay 9 nights in the Mercy lions house and a lengthy stay of 118 days in the RMCH, Daddy visiting on weekends, balancing work and taking care of my siblings while I got stronger and grew so I could come home. The house is a sanctuary filled with love, support, and strength, guiding families like my mummy through incredibly difficult journeys.This is why I’m joining Ronald McDonald House Charities to participate in Dance for Sick Kids this year. I love dancing and want to help other parents like mine.
I will dance every day for seven days to raise funds that will enable mummy’s and Daddy’s and other family members to stay in a home-away-from-home, while receiving emotional and financial support. From the first day in the hospital and for however long it's needed, your support ensures that families never have to face the trials of illness or injury alone.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support my challenge. Your generosity will ensure that Ronald McDonald House Charities can continue to provide essential support to parents of seriously ill or injured children when they need it most.
My Achievements
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seven nights
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ten nights
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Thanks to all the generous people who’ve donated to my challenge.
$116.40
Ucandance
$100
Ashlea Mcnellee
Dance hard Rivah ❤️
$70.96
Anonymous
Well done Rivah!
$54.12
Michelle Broadbent
You are one amazing little girl and I believe you are going to do great things in your life with your beautiful mumma right beside you xo
$54.12
Sandy Sier
Great job rivah you make everyone proud dance like no one is watching
$50
Jamie Johnson
Daddy’s little girl making us proud 💕 Double donations day 🙌
$50
Matched By Generous Donors
$50
Rebecca Brown
Dance my baby 🥰
$43
Susan Mcnamara
So proud of you Rivah, keep shining bright beautiful girl 🩷🩷🩷
$33.15
Josie & Jeff Dean
Have Fun Rivah!!! I remember your mum and dad staying at RMH when you had just been born.. it was so lovely to have some good conversations with them. I’ve loved watching you grow up on facebook! Since we live in QLD!
$33.15
Judy Maude
Well done Rivah !!
$33.15
Michelle Carrafa
You’ve got this Rivah xxx
$33.15
Eleanor
Well done Rivah!!! So proud of you from Eleanor
$33.15
Anonymous
$33.15
Anni Colbran
Keep dancing Princess Rivah 💜💜
$31.04
Brenda Nash
Keep up your dancing 💃 Rivah and always keep smiling 😃 as your smile is as bright as you are 💎⭐️💖💓💕
$30
Rob Priestly
Great work. What champ!
$30
Robyn Brown
$27.81
Aunty Susie
So proud of you Rivah , keep reaching for the stars beautiful girl xx
$22.58
Rhonda Lear
$22.58
Gina Gardner
You are a little super star Rivah!
$22.58
Skye Whitley
Dance your heart out darling girl 🩷🩷
$22.58
Aunty Robyn & Uncle Robert
Go Rivah, we are so proud of the little lady you are growing into, Aunty Robyn and Uncle Robert are very proud of you. We love you lots Princess 👸
$22.58
Jo And Mia
Loved watching you dance Princess Rivah 👸
$22.58
Felicity & Baker Prescott
Such a wonderful cause !! Rivah- You are such a beautiful dancer and your are such a strong and brave little princess 😁
$22.58
Megan Heard
We all love you darling girl. Keep kicking them goals.
$22.58
Jess Milne
Keep up the great work Rivah
$22.58
Leanne Obrien
Rivah you are going so well with your dancing my favourite is the barbie video keep up the great work 🩷🌷
$22.58
Anonymous
Go girl!
$22.58
Kristy Faulkner
Goooooo Rivah
$22.58
Anonymous
Keep slaying Rivah💪
$22.58
Caleb Johnson
$22.58
Kelsey Borrelli
Get it girl
$17.16
Tammie-lee
Proud of everything you achieve Miss Rivah
$15
Gale Mckey
Congratuons, well done Rivah.
$15
Christina
Go Rivah! Your family and friends are so proud of you!
$11.65
Debbie
Your doing great Rivah keep going 😘
$11.65
Tammy Sing
Keep on dancing beautiful girl. Reach for the stars
$11.65
Mel Stevens
$11.65
Anonymous
$11.65
Vannah Galu
$11.65
Jacky Talbot
Go Rivah - lots of love your little cousins Iris, Kenzie and Finny 🩷
$11.65
Anonymous
Well done Rivah! Proud of you always . You are growing so gorgeous.
$11.65
Allanah
$11.65
Sue Law
Keep dancing Rivkah 💖
$11.65
Kyla And Tamsyn Mcgregor
Congratulations Rivah and well done in helping others!
$11.65
Amanda Unterrheiner
$11.41
Trudy Conroy
All the best Rivah with your dancing. You are such a caring sweet girl. xx
$10
Rivah Johnson
$5
Anonymous
$5
Olivia Penwright
You dance girl!! 😍
$5
Rivah Johnson
$2.88
Terminator
From terminator keep on dancing
How Your Donation Helps
A global research team* worked with RMHC to evaluate the impact of our House Program on families around the world. The following is a summary of those findings**.
Access to the best care
Our House Program makes it possible for families who travel long distances, to access the top children’s hospitals around the world.
Stronger mental health
Having a child in hospital can trigger clinical anxiety in parents. Our Houses provide families with the emotional, mental and practical support to better manage their stress so that they can be more actively involved in the care of their children.
Financial peace of mind
Ongoing medical bills, travel, and accommodation costs are a huge source of stress for many families. Our Houses offer accommodation at no cost, close to hospitals, to alleviate some of the burden.
Parents sleep better
Parents who sleep at one of our Houses have a better night’s rest than those that sleep at their child’s hospital bedside. This ensures they have the strength to support their child.
Children’s recovery
Having family and siblings close by, who are invested in a child’s care, can improve a hospitalised child’s recovery and treatment outcomes.
Positive hospital experience
Families who stay at a Ronald McDonald House find they have a more positive experience of hospital than those that stay elsewhere.
Families cope better
Having family together under one roof, including the support of experienced volunteers and other families, greatly improves a family’s ability to cope with having a child in hospital.
Safe, affordable alternative to hospital
Many high-risk pregnant women who are stable but need to be close to care, can now afford to stay close to care. This is also the case for parents who have a newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Siblings cope better
Play is how children interact and make sense of the world. That’s why play areas are such an important part of our offering. They allow siblings to connect and cope more with the stress of a difficult situation.
* The global team of researchers was drawn from leading universities, including the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), George Washington University, the University of Chicago, as well as from top medical centres in Hong Kong; Sydney, Australia; the United Kingdom; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cincinnati, U.S.; and Toronto, Canada.
** Findings taken from RMHC Impact Research – the name for a suite of studies on the impact of RMHC around the world. The summaries provided here provide a snapshot of the findings from each of the key Ronald McDonald House Impact studies.
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Keep up the kindness and keep being a shining star Rivah 🌟💕