Student's Take: Project Janan’s Wheels of Joy  

By Wendy Wen, Vice-Head, Project Janan

Throughout February 2025, the committee members of Project Janan actively participated in the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Happy Wheels Cart initiative, working closely with student volunteers from M1, M2, and M4. This meaningful collaboration took place at the Khoo Teck Puat–National University Children’s Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI), where volunteers played a key role in bringing comfort and cheer to young patients and their families during hospital visits.

A total of 11 volunteer shifts were carried out over the month, each scheduled in the morning (9:30 am–12:00 pm) and afternoon (2:00–4:30 pm). Each shift was manned by one Project Janan committee member and supported by two to four student volunteers. Together, they managed the Happy Wheels Cart – a brightly stocked mobile cart filled with snacks, drinks, toys, stickers, and balloons. These items were distributed to children waiting for medical appointments, offering them light-hearted distractions in an otherwise daunting clinical setting. Simultaneously, hot beverages were prepared on-site and served to parents and caregivers, offering them a moment of rest and comfort amidst an often-stressful day.

This initiative is part of Project Janan’s longstanding partnership with RMHC Singapore, which is based at the National University Hospital. RMHC Singapore provides support for families with critically ill children through its Ronald McDonald House – having served over 1,280 families to date – and its Ronald McDonald Family Rooms located in the Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (PICU & NICU), which serve hundreds of families daily.

Each year, Project Janan sponsors the Happy Wheels Cart throughout the month of February, extending care beyond clinical treatment by helping to create a more compassionate and supportive hospital environment.

To sustain this effort, a donation drive is conducted over three weeks in January, inviting fellow students, staff, and faculty to contribute individually packaged snacks, beverages, and household essentials. Viable food donations are used to stock the Happy Wheels Cart, while non-food items like baby-safe detergent and wet wipes are donated directly to the RMHC Family Rooms.

As the Project Janan team shares, “We’re glad to be able to engage the wider LKCMedicine community to participate in the Happy Wheels Cart! It allows us all to gain exposure to and be part of the paediatric patient journey. It is extremely heartening to see the shy little kids brighten up, or have parents share how much the goodies mean to their kids.” 

 These moments of connection and kindness capture the true heart of the initiative, bringing light and warmth to children and families during challenging times.