Padel Becomes a Space for Solidarity
Community sports in urban areas are evolving beyond mere healthy lifestyles to become shared spaces for fostering social awareness. Various sports branches are increasingly being utilised as mediums to mobilise support for humanitarian issues, ranging from healthcare to education. One such rising trend is padel, a sport that is gaining popularity and being used to drive social action.
This spirit was evident in the Padel for Hope Vol. 2 tournament, organised by the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Foundation, held from 8–10 May 2026 at the KALMA Social Club, Jakarta. Under the theme ‘Play for a Cause’, more than 260 participants from diverse backgrounds took part in raising support for families of children suffering from chronic illnesses.
The funds collected will be used for the construction of the fifth RMHC Ronald McDonald House at the Ministry of Health Hospital in Surabaya, which will have a capacity of 33 rooms. Additionally, assistance will be directed towards establishing a Family Waiting Room at the Dr. H. Abdul Moeloek Regional General Hospital in Lampung. Both facilities aim to assist families of children from outlying regions who struggle to find decent accommodation while accompanying their children through medical treatment.
Behind the competitive atmosphere, a strong sense of kinship and social concern was felt throughout the tournament. The event, which coincided with International Day of Families, was also used as an opportunity to encourage the public to understand the struggles of families whose children must undergo long-term treatment far from home.
‘Padel for Hope is not merely a sporting event, but a collective movement uniting society to bring hope to families of children with chronic illnesses in Indonesia,’ said the Chairperson of the RMHC Foundation, Caroline Djajadiningrat. She added that the contributions from participants, communities, and sponsors play a vital role in providing more Ronald McDonald House and Family Waiting Room facilities for thousands of families across various regions.
The need for facilities to support paediatric patients’ families remains significant. Internal data from the Ministry of Health Hospital in Surabaya shows that approximately 70% of paediatric patients originate from outside the city, including areas such as Banyuwangi, Jember, Madiun, and Madura. Some families must travel up to 10 hours to access the best healthcare for their children. Around 30% of paediatric patients at the hospital are undergoing treatment for chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease, which require long-term accompaniment. This situation forces families to bear accommodation and living costs that can reach Rp8.5 million per month, leading some to sleep in hospital corridors, mosques, or even petrol stations to remain with their children.
Elfridus, a parent of a patient staying at the Denpasar Ronald McDonald House, shared a similar experience. While accompanying his child through leukaemia treatment at a referral hospital far from home, he struggled to find affordable, decent accommodation. ‘The hardest part is not just the cost, but the exhaustion and confusion of navigating everything in a city far from home,’ he explained. He noted that the presence of the Ronald McDonald House provides families with a sense of security and peace.
To date, the RMHC Foundation operates four Ronald McDonald Houses in Lebak Bulser, Kiara RSCM, Kemanggisan, and Denpasar, having served over 23,000 families with more than 66,000 overnight stays. Caroline Djajadiningrat emphasised that these houses are spaces for recovery that provide a warm, home-like atmosphere, which is crucial for a child’s emotional well-being during treatment.
The high enthusiasm of the participants also demonstrates the strengthening collaboration between various communities in supporting social movements. Support came from sports communities, public figures, the general public, and sponsors, including McDonald’s Indonesia, which returned as the main sponsor this year. Meta Rostiawati, Associate Director of Communications at McDonald’s Indonesia, stated that the spirit of togetherness in the event aligns with the company’s value of ‘gotong royong’ (mutual cooperation).