We are proud to be participating in the Day of Champions, benefitting Experience Camps.
Experience Camps are free, one-week camps for children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. It's a place where kids can laugh, cry, play, create, remember the person who died, or forget the grief that weighs them down. It's a place where they can feel "normal", because everyone there has been through something similar and understands what it's like to lose someone important to them. It's a home away from home. And just about everyone will tell you..."It's the best week of the year".
This hits close to home, as my father passed away from melanoma when I was 4 years old. I never knew anyone else who had lost a parent, and could not have imagined there would be a place to share experiences that are so personal. Losing a parent alters how a child sees the world and sees themselves. Imagine not knowing what to do on Mother's or Father's Day. Imagine the celebrations in your young life always having a tint of sadness because someone is not there. Imagine always wondering if someone is able to see you, to feel proud of you. These feelings don't go away, but they do become more managable when others around you are going through the exact same thing. Nothing like this existed when we were young. What a joy it is to be able to provide such an experience to kids today.
