You don’t stay shy at Camp Quality for long.
The youngsters who attend the annual summer camp for children with cancer make sure newcomers soon fit in.
“If they come in and they’re shy, they definitely do not leave shy,” said Chase, a 14-year-old who was not yet two years old when he had to fight, and ultimately beat, leukemia.
Now in his fourth year at the camp at Sylvan Lake’s Camp Kannawin, Chase plans to keep coming back. When he’s 18, the Eckville-area teen wants to be a counsellor.
“It’s the one place where you can be who you are and do anything you want,” he said on Saturday at the start of the week-long camp. (The camp prefers to withhold last names for privacy.)
Another camper, Colin, had non-Hodgkins lymphoma when he was nine, but has been cancer free for six years. The 15-year-old, who still must get a checkup every six months to be sure the disease hasn’t returned, also sees something special in the camp.
“What I like about it is we’re not always on a tight schedule. We can do other things,” said the St. Paul teen. “They treat us really nicely and its one-on-one or one-on-two.”
Becoming a counsellor is also his goal. He believes others with cancer benefit from seeing kids like themselves who have beaten the disease and are having fun.
“Some kids come here when they’ve just done treatment or are almost done,” he said. They see us and they probably get hope.” Camp counsellor Paul McKay said the camp has been around for about eight years.
“It’s not just a summer camp for kids with cancer,” said the commercial real estate broker, who was decked out in a Superman costume in keeping with this year’s superheroes theme.
Some of the youngsters moved to Red Deer because the treatment and expertise necessary was there. But that sometimes means children find themselves far from home and their friends.
Camp Quality offers more than the standard camp experience. For instance, more than 30 volunteers will help look after this summer’s 26 campers.
“It’s kind of like a camp and a Big Brother/ Big Sister Association,” he said.
There is also help for families who may be struggling. It could be financial, or sometimes a family is having difficulty coping with the stress of having a child fighting a serious illness.
“We have different people at camp who keep on top of that. If we deem that they could use some moral support or some financial support, we might give them gas coupons and food coupons and basically anything like that.”
On the last day of camp, a family day is organized so all can enjoy the experience.
There are also a couple family days organized throughout the year to allow everyone to see each other again and keep friendships fresh.
Many of the children are now healthy but they often stay involved, which really gives those who are still sick a boost to see that cancer can be beaten, he said.
For the healthy kids, it helps to see that others are still well. “Parents tell us that throughout the year that they’re always scared that when they’re in remission (the cancer) is going to come back.”
The free camp is entirely supported by fundraising and sponsors. The Red Deer Optimist Club does an annual Radiothon, Mr. Lube has done an oil drop campaign and Barclay Street Real Estate Ltd. has also become a supporter.
For information go to www.campqualityalberta.com
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com