Leading breastfeeding brand, Medela, has announced a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) worldwide as it donates Symphony breast pumps with full kits and accessories to 60 participating Ronald McDonald House programmes across the globe, including all of the 15 Houses in the UK.
Supporting families in Wirral, Medela will be donating to Ronald McDonald House Arrowe Park, whose integral facility enables families to be by their hospitalised child’s bedside in a matter of moments, maintain a degree of normal life whilst also easing emotional and financial strain.
This product donation will support about 15,000 breastfeeding families and includes hospital-grade (multi-user) breast pumps, kits, and breastfeeding accessories for use by RMHC families with breastfeeding needs to provider greater ease and comfort while caring for an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Katy Knight, House Manager at Ronald McDonald House Arrowe Park commented, “We are so proud to provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in hospital. Being in such close proximity to the neonatal ward, we enable breastfeeding families to provide breast milk for their child.
“Being able to now offer our mums the Symphony Breast Pumps, free of charge, is invaluable. Many of our families have a premature or seriously ill baby, so the donation from Medela will help reduce anxiety for our families, during what is already an extremely emotional and stressful time.
“Since the Charity was founded in 1989, it’s supported over 50,000 families, and we are proud to continue
this journey, now with Medela’s donation to further support breastfeeding families that are staying with
us.”
Speaking about the donation, Annette Brüls, CEO of Medela worldwide said, “Forty per cent of the families served by RMHC globally have a child in the NICU, and we are honored to work with local Ronald McDonald House programs to support breastfeeding families,
“In celebration of Medela’s 60th anniversary, we are providing our products to 60 locations across Australia, China, the UK and USA to ensure breastfeeding parents staying at a Ronald McDonald House have one less thing to worry about.”
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 10 babies are born more than three weeks early each year. To ensure that breastfeeding families have the support they need, we are glad to provide select Ronald McDonald House locations around the world with breastfeeding supplies to offer to families with an infant in the NICU.
“At Ronald McDonald House Charities, we believe in supporting families around the world and helping them access the medical care they need,” said Kelly Dolan, President and CEO of RMHC Global. “We are so appreciative our supporters at Medela can help us provide vital resources for breastfeeding parents staying at select Ronald McDonald Houses.”
To date, Medela has donated more than 260 breast pumps to select Ronald McDonald House programmes. Medela Cares is focused on engaging and expanding its role and leading the conversation about women and children’s health, specifically, maternal health care.
For more information, visit www.medela.com/rmhc 
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