Memorial fundraiser fights family hospital costs in Kiesha’s name

A Niagara mother is raising money in her daughter’s name to cover Ronald McDonald House stays for families trapped far from home by a child’s illness.

Tammy Embrey told Fort Erie Radio the September 12 memorial benefit at the Great Buff Hall in Port Colborne must raise $5,000 to keep a Hamilton Ronald McDonald House room sponsored in memory of her daughter Kiesha, who died Christmas morning in 2024 at age 18.

The money does not pay for the room itself, Embrey said. It pays for families who cannot afford the cost of staying near their child’s hospital bed.

“All that money is used for families that can’t afford to stay at the house when their kids are sick. So then they’ll pay for families to stay there and then they’ll get a card that’ll say your room was paid in memory of Kiesha,” said Embrey.

Kiesha lived with numerous disabilities and spent much of her life in and out of hospital. Embrey said her family spent long stretches at Ronald McDonald House because home was too far away when Kiesha needed care.

That distance still matters for Niagara families, including families from Fort Erie, Welland, Port Colborne and Niagara Falls, of which many travel to Hamilton or other hospital centres when a child becomes seriously ill.

“A lot of people from this area use the Ronald McDonald House because we are so far from home when we’re down there,” said Embrey.

Ronald McDonald House can cost $16 a night, Embrey said. That price can hit hard when a family stays for weeks or months.

“When you’re staying there for two, three months at a time with your kids, it adds up over time,” said Embrey.

Families who receive support through the fund are told their stay was paid in Kiesha’s memory. Embrey said the room sponsorship requires $5,000 each year. The family has raised money for it in previous years and this year’s benefit will continue that work.

The family also plans to set aside $1,000 for two $500 scholarships at Eastdale Secondary School in Welland, where graduating students will receive awards in Kiesha’s memory.

The western-themed fundraiser will take place September 12 at the Great Buff Hall at 300 Killaly Street East in Port Colborne. Tickets cost $10.

The night will have a 55-inch TV door prize, raffle prizes, games, music, food and a slideshow about Kiesha. Embrey said the family also expects remarks connected to Ronald McDonald House, similar to last year, when the Hamilton house’s CEO spoke at the event.

Embrey said she is seeking sponsorships and raffle donations from businesses across Niagara, including Fort Erie, because the families who need the house come from across the region.

Kiesha had been known in Niagara through earlier media coverage and fundraisers that helped buy specialized equipment when she was younger, Embrey said.

“We’re just trying to keep our daughter’s memory alive as much as we can. And she touched so many lives growing up,” said Embrey.

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