Rotary Maracanã joins forces with Casa Ronald in the fight against childhood cancer

On July 31, 2025, the 2025-2026 President of the Rotary Club of Rio de Janeiro Maracanã, Cláudia Reis, and its Vice President, Eduardo Vasco, visited the Casa Ronald McDonald do Rio de Janeiro with the objective of strengthening ties and aligning future partnerships focused on the cause of childhood and adolescent cancer.

They were welcomed by Sonia Neves, President of Casa Ronald, Carlos Neves, Operational Director, and Estela Fachin, a volunteer of the institution, who shared the mission, challenges and results of the work carried out with the children and families served.

Founded in 1994 and maintained by the Instituto Ronald McDonald, the Rio de Janeiro unit provides accommodation, meals, transportation and psychosocial support to children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment, as well as to their families. In 2023 alone, the institution recorded more than 10,000 free accommodation nights, according to data from the Institute itself. This work is essential in light of an alarming scenario, as cancer is already the leading cause of death by disease among children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 in Brazil, according to the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA, 2023).

During the meeting, concrete possibilities for cooperation between the two organizations were discussed, with emphasis on the participation of the Rotary Club of Rio de Janeiro Maracanã in the McDia Feliz campaign, which will take place in the second half of the year. The campaign is one of the largest solidarity mobilizations in the country in support of childhood cancer, with more than R$ 350 million raised since its creation in 1988. In 2023 alone, McDia Feliz benefited more than 70 institutions in Brazil, according to the Instituto Ronald McDonald.

For Rotary, initiatives like this directly align with the areas of focus of The Rotary Foundation, especially Maternal and Child Health and Disease Prevention and Treatment. These are causes that require more than good intentions. They demand strategy, long-term commitment and solid alliances with organizations that closely understand the realities faced by those most in need.

President Cláudia Reis highlighted the importance of strengthening ties with organizations that share common humanitarian values.

Rotary Maracanã therefore positions itself as an active and present partner in building a supportive ecosystem that recognizes childhood as a priority and understands that every act of cooperation becomes concrete hope.

Sources

• Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA). Cancer Incidence in Brazil, 2023.

• Instituto Ronald McDonald. Impact Report 2023.

• The Rotary Foundation. Areas of Focus. Rotary International.

• McDia Feliz 2023. Instituto Ronald McDonald.