Rappelling RCMP members deliver Christmas presents to B.C.'s Ronald McDonald House

Children at the Ronald McDonald House at BC Children’s Hospital were paid a surprise visit from a number of nimble guests on Friday, sent from none other than the jolly old man himself.

For the fourth year in a row, the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team disguised themselves as gift-giving elves on a mission to bring Christmas cheer.

The members harnessed their rappelling skills to deliver bags stuffed with brightly wrapped gifts down the edifice of the children’s hospital building. Reindeers were absent in favour of another kind of four-legged friends, police dogs, while Santa's sleigh was replaced with something a little more cutting edge: an armoured response vehicle, joined by trucks and other specialized equipment and vehicles.

“They've been supporting the house for a number of years and it’s a continued tradition that we always look forward to as a staff team, it's always such a surprise for the families,” said Stephanie Mosher, vice president, philanthropy at Ronald McDonald House B.C.

“It's just something so nice for the families who are going to stay at RMH for the holidays, and it just helps make the holidays a little bit brighter for them.”

With many of Santa’s helpers returning each year to be a part of the program, Mosher said it is heartwarming to see the tradition growing and the volunteers so eagerly excited to build an annual festive community.

“This day is one all of our members look forward to each year,” said Constable Alexandre Lévesque, who has been working to organize the event.

“Having the opportunity to spend time with these amazing kids, showing them our equipment and seeing their faces as we drop down and wave through their windows is incredibly special,” he said.

While the varied selection of gifts, designed to cater to all toy tastes and age ranges, are the purpose of the operation, for some children, the spectacle alone is the biggest gift of all, said Mosher.

“The little helpers are usually in various areas along the roof of our house, they come right down off the roof, across the windows and over some of the balconies,” she said.

“It’s always a big surprise for the kids when they see them. All the children gather outside our front door and eagerly await the elves, which is where they repel down to,” she said.

Mosher recalls a conversation she had with one of the program’s “alumni families” a few weeks ago, who touched on how disappointed she had been at the time that their family was having to stay at the house over the festive period.

“Looking back, she said it was one of the best Christmases she ever had,” said Mosher.

“That's exactly why we do what we do, is to make the holiday special for those families.”