As the warm weather approaches, many of you are already thinking about outside activities for the summer. For many of you, the world “camp” undoubtedly comes to mind, whether it’s because you’re recalling memories from your childhood you hope to recreate through bonfires and BBQs (admittedly, now with more adult beverages to go with your s’mores), or you’re planning to send your own kids off somewhere to make memories of their own, or you’re still one of the lucky ones that gets to go either as a camper or a counselor.
For families that have a child with cancer, though, camp is a much different experience – one that may seem out of reach. But the Okizu Foundation has worked hard for thirty years to give these kids a little slice of normal childhood life back, while still catering to their medical needs. Camp Okizu in Northern California focuses on teaching these children a sense of independence, positive self-esteem, and peer support during a residential camp experience. The camp prides itself on creating a community of those who understand, first-hand, what it’s like to deal with childhood cancer and to provide tools and skills to cope better.
To learn more about the Okizu Foundation or how you can donate (the cost of sending one child to camp for one week is about $1000), please click here: http://www.okizu.org.
