Help change lives.
Camp is…Inspiring
Two weeks ago, a good friend and I had a chance to volunteer at Flying Horse Farms; a SeriousFun Camp founded by Paul Newman and located in Mt. Gilead, OH. If I had to use one word to sum up my experience it would be INSPIRING. Walking into this opportunity, I wasn’t sure what to expect…needless to say, I was blown away! I had the great pleasure of meeting amazing people who will stay in my heart and mind forever.
I will always remember the sheer joy on one camper’s face after he shot a bow & arrow for the first time with roughly a dozen campers & volunteers cheering him on. The fact that he had recently finished his second round of chemo and was unable to verbally communicate wasn’t an issue; he was just like every other kid experiencing life as kids should….it was truly magical to witness! I also recall another camper proudly describing the thrill of catching a fish for the first time (she even kissed it!), with her feeding tube tucked safely in her backpack. The courage, strength, tenacity, and bravery these children displayed was indescribable.
This SeriousFun Camp provides these special children with the unique opportunity to be “regular kids” with a name and not a medical diagnosis for a moment. If you are ever looking for an organization to donate to and/or get involved with, SeriousFun is an incredible organization that not only gives these wonderful children a really cool experience but provides support to the families (heroes in my book) as well. With that said I am counting the days until the children of Michigan will also get to experience the magic of camp in the safety of their own backyard when North Star Reach is built and operating. Every kid who wants to go to camp should be able to have this opportunity and building North Star Reach will ensure that more kids do!
Truly INSPIRING…
By: Dana Marinesi, camp volunteer