MUNCIE, Ind. — When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it's more than just the patient who is affected by it. There's one place that offers a community for their families and kids. Camp Kesem is a national nonprofit organization that helps children ages six through 18 who have been affected by a parent’s cancer or cancer diagnosis. They offer free summer camps and other events during the school year to give kids a place to just be themselves with kids just like them
“No child has to be alone. No child has to be alone going through their parents' cancer. It gives them an outlet, it gives them a community,” explained Sofia Martinez, chapter director.
Kesem encourages the magic of camp even more by embracing chosen nicknames. Nicknames are either created out of straight whimsy or a memory of a parent’s cancer. Children who are involved in Kesem are accepted and embraced in their rawest form and that's the real magic
“You grow up and things like cancer are a like bad word and people walk on eggshells around it and it's frustrating and you grow up feeling really isolated and then you finally have a community where you can feel comfortable feeling emotions and talking about things that are difficult,” Emmie Sumski, former camper, said.
Through crafts and greenhouse scavenger hunts the children were encouraged to have fun and be curious. Kids were able to interact with various animals and other wildlife throughout the day. Not only does this camp help build a community within the campers, volunteers and camp counselors feel it just as much.
“My favorite thing about Camp Kesem is all the campers,” said Martinez. “I love to meet with them. I love to work with them. I love to see them grow and make friends and to have huge smiles on their faces by the end of camp.”
Although the grieving process can be hard, Kesem reminds and continues to remind campers and volunteers alike that they always have a friend through a parent’s cancer. To get involved or find a chapter near you, you can go to kesem.org.
Contact Abby Urban with comments at abigail.urban@bsu.edu.
