North

Whitehorse family thanks 'amazing' Ronald McDonald house

A family whose son has leukemia has been staying in Vancouver with help from a charitable organization. A new Ronald McDonald house has hosted 30 Yukon families so far this year.

Residence in Vancouver has hosted 30 Yukon families since last July

Bernard and Amanda Stehelin's son Marek was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. Since then the family has been travelling to Vancouver and staying at a newly-built Ronald McDonald House. (Mike Rudyck/CBC)

A Whitehorse family wants to thank a charitable organization whose new building in Vancouver will likely help hundreds of Yukon parents in coming years. 

Bernard and Amanda Stehelin's son Marek was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. During his treatment they have been travelling to Vancouver and staying at Ronald McDonald House.

Amanda Stehelin says the house in Vancouver provides a place to stay near the Children's Hospital. The McDonalds restaurant chain funds 14 such houses across Canada.  

On May 6 in Whitehorse Premier Darrell Pasloski and Health Minister Mike Nixon presented the Ronald McDonald House program with $2,500 (Mike Rudyk/CBC)
"Marek was diagnosed with leukemia last April. Since then we have lived there almost full time," Amanda Stehelin said.

"We still go down every 28 days for four to five days. For the next two years we are going to be guests at the amazing Ronald McDonald House."

The Vancouver residence opened last July and since then 30 Yukon families have stayed there.

The average length of a family's stay is 56 nights.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski and health minister Mike Nixon met the family today in Whitehorse and provided the Ronald McDonald House foundation with a cheque for $2,500.