CHAIRPERSON’S Message
RMHC Global Board of Trustees RMHC Hong Kong Chairperson Ms. Grace Fung Oei
A very warm welcome to the RMHC Hong Kong Gala Dinner 2024. This evening, we celebrate our dream and the possibilities that love can bring, under tonight’s inspiring theme “Let the Dream Fly”. As the shadow of the pandemic recedes, it is time to dream boldly and soar to new heights as we unleash our impact and reignite our purpose. In our community, our impact and purpose are quite special. The first RMHC in Asia was established in Hong Kong. We opened our first House in 1996 and established a unique position of focusing not only on the sick children, but on their families as well. Since then RMHC Hong Kong has been a prime advocate in bringing the “Family-centered care” model of health care to life. We have created an environment where families can stay together, find solace, and connect with each other during the most difficult time in their lives. Late last year, we took a significant step forward in our mission when we opened our second House in Kwun Tong. With 66 rooms, the new House will provide an additional 24,000 overnight stays each year for families with children who are sick, tripling the scale of operations for RMHC Hong Kong. 16 years in the making, this milestone represents the fulfilment of a dream that once seemed out of reach. It began as a single, earnest aspiration to expand our capacity to support more families in HK when HK Government announced in its 2007 Policy Address the intention to set up a centre of excellence in paediatrics (CEP). As we opened the doors to our second House in Nov 2023, we marked not just the end of a long journey, but the beginning of a new chapter in our history of keeping families together and providing “Family-centered care” and invaluable psychosocial support and resources for families with seriously ill children in HK.
The opening of our new House also reminded us that dreams, bold or humble, can come true when we commit ourselves fully to them. With relentless dedication, purposeful collaboration, and unyielding love, the possibilities are endless. We can indeed make a profound impact on the lives of those in need. And, if our dream can become a reality, we owe it to others to help them pursue theirs. I am pleased to be serving on RMHC Global Board of Trustees, especially as we celebrate RMHC Global’s Golden Jubilee this year. While 50 years is a significant milestone, we continue to keep the dream alive to meet the needs of sick children and their families. As we honor our past, we reaffirm our commitment to expanding and enhancing our services, ensuring that we support and uplift those who rely on us. I agree with Dr Audrey Evans, one of our Mission Founders, that “When you care for others, it’s infectious and it can spread to create change and extraordinary impact”. I cannot wait to see what the next 50 years will bring. Together, we will dream bigger, work harder, and strive to make an even greater impact in the lives of those we serve. Thank you again for your support!
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