Our program is QUALITATIVE WITH LIFELONG IMPACT boosting mental health/social well-being: 2 or more low-income local Newmarket area children impacted by life-threatening illness will be sent to camp/program of their choice to reintegrate back into play/social life (to $500/child).

Our program is not a cookie cutter camp that all must attend; the idea is for each child to select a program/camp that interests THEM based on personal preferences and needs (i.e., some have stamina for overnight, others can join a half-hour per week. Requests vary from horseback/robotics/sports/dance/drama/music/arts-crafts/swimming/etc.

Children are devastated financially/socially/emotionally; allows kids to be kids again, creating much-need good memories during a very difficult time and sense of being a regular kid. Whether the child is the patient, sibling or has an ill parent, all are impacted by illness. Pediatric patients are robbed of childhood; siblings feel neglected telling parents they wish they were sick (to get attention); others reverse roles, becoming caregiver to ill parent, thus interrupting healthy psychological development. Family dynamics change so escaping helps in unmeasurable ways, permitting youth have a typical childhood experience.

Healthcare professionals (i.e., child life specialists/social workers from Southlake Hospital/Hospital for Sick Children) refer vulnerable to us when they identify that they could benefit socially/emotionally. The U.S National Library of Medicine explains “... importance of quality of life when dealing with childhood cancer...quality of life is what the child says it is...” (www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/).
“It is important to address ongoing and emerging needs of the child and their family to achieve complete and long-term healing” (kidswithcancer.ca). The American Psychological Association warns of social/emotional consequences including anxiety, difficulties with peer relations, inhibited withdrawn behaviour. We counteract impact.