With September fast approaching many children are looking to return to school.
For families staying at Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon, like the Eckerts from Williams Lake, going back to school has it’s challenges.
Six-year-old Duncan Eckert was to begin Grade 1 this fall but was diagnosed with leukemia and has been spending almost 11 weeks at RMH (Ronlad Mcdonald House).
However he is able to continue his learning journey thanks to their Education Program.
“It’s an amazing program they offer,” Duncan’s mom Kelli Eckert said, “I honestly don’t know what we would do without it. We’re so happy that we don’t have to worry about what we’re going to do for schooling since they do have the teacher on site for us.”
Eckert said the program is twice a week so as long as they don’t have clinic days at the Hospital Duncan has to go both days.
“He absolutely loves the program. The educator Sarah is so good with him and helps him enjoy learning like he already does and he gets so excited to go, it’s his favourite program that they offer here.”
Duncan absolutely loves math and his mom said he’s always asking them to do math questions with him wherever he is.
“He also loves to read, he loves art, anything that he’s learning he really enjoys. He just likes retaining a whole bunch of knowledge and then telling you about it later,” Eckert noted.
Duncan’s mom said the Education Program offers one on one sessions or there are group sessions that they try to do one of each if they can.
“And that’s kind of nice because with the group session Duncan’s sister is able to go as well so she can still learn when she is here.”
Eckert said the first time they had a one on one class his Teacher Sarah sat down, got to know Duncan and asked what he likes learning, what we want to work on with him, where he kind of left off in Kindergarten because he missed the last few weeks of it.
“Having your child in this situation is hard enough. Having Ronald Mcdonald House offer this program you don’t have to worry about what you’re kids are going to do for school it’s all looked after for you pretty much. You just bring your kids and they learn so many different things it’s absolutely amazing, we’re so happy.”
As the back to school season begins RMH BC & Yukon is calling on communities to support their ongoing fundraising efforts to raise $45,000 to fund one year of its in-house Education Program to help children like Duncan.
To donate click here.
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