Sunrise Day Camp is a day camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. It started on Long Island in 2006 with about 96 campers enrolled. It is now 2016, and there are more than 500 kids that are signed up to go to camp. I have been a counselor there for the past three summers, where I've seen the impact it makes on these kids lives. I'm here to tell you why Sunrise is so amazing.
To see the magic Sunrise creates, WATCH THIS VIDEO:
1. Children with cancer are given another opportunity to be a kid again.
After spending months in the hospital, these kids are stripped of their childhood. Many children are not able to go to school or play with their friends while they go through treatment, so it leaves them feeling lonely and isolated. Sunrise gives them the chance to do everything a typical kid does, while allowing them to continue their medical treatment.
2. Their siblings get to go, too!
Siblings are often affected more by their brother or sister's cancer than many may expect. When their sibling is undergoing treatment, a lot of the time the family gives most of the attention to the sick child, understandably. Siblings are able to receive attention at camp that they may not have gotten. Also, siblings provide support for each other and are able to enjoy the magic of Sunrise together!
3. Every child gets to go to camp FREE OF CHARGE so that parents can get relief from medical bills.
Medical bills could be a huge burden to families. Sunrise wants to relieve this burden, so every child gets to go for free. It costs about $6,000 for one child to go to camp. That is why donations are so important--so that Sunrise can keep creating the magic that changes people's lives.
4. They have every activity that there would be at any other day camp.
They have sports, swim, yoga, martial arts, cheerleading, drama, dance, ropes, playground, cartooning, scrapbooking, creative writing, music, and art, just like any normal day camp. The only difference is that each activity is made to accommodate every child so that no one feels left out.
5. It is a DAY camp, so kids can be in the comfort of their own bed at night.
By making it a day camp, kids can still go through treatment and also attend camp. At the end of the day, they have the comfort of going home to their own bed.
6. The staff consists of some of the most amazing people you’ll ever meet.
They are dedicated to make each day the best day for every camper because a kid’s first day of camp can be their last. The staff is so passionate about what they do and never hesitate to put the kids before themselves.
7. They have the craziest carnival days.
Carnivals are all the hype of camp. There are bouncy rides, carnival games, cotton candy, face painting, snow cones, and so much more. It's not uncommon to hear campers screaming, "THIS IS THE BEST CARNIVAL I'VE EVER BEEN TO!"
8. Color war is absolutely insane.
Every year, color war has an awesome theme. Last year the teams were Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin to go with the Harry Potter theme! Since the Sunrise's colors are rainbow, new team colors are chosen every year. Color war consists of skits, plaques, games, cheering, and absolute madness.
9. Everyone is required to wear some sort of head covering so that no one feels out of place.
Many campers are insecure about their hair falling out from treatment. To make everyone feel equal, everyone wears some sort of head covering. Throughout the summer, a lot of kids start to feel comfortable, so they let the sun shine on their little bald heads.
10. There is a theme for each day, so campers and counselors always get to dress up.
Whether it's SunriseStock or Crazy Hat Day, everyone always loves to dress up. Each theme teaches everyone something new for that day.
11. Camp is filled with so much happiness and love that you’ll never want to leave.
People may think a camp for kids with cancer is something that is sad. But it is truly the opposite. I'd actually consider it one of the happiest places in the world. Everyone is so appreciative to be there, so they cherish each moment. Incredible bonds are formed between campers and also between campers and their counselors.
12. The second you walk into camp, you become part of the Sunrise Family.
It’s the family you could always come to whenever you need someone to lean on. Sunrise becomes your home away from home.
13. Sunrise changes lives of not only the campers, but also their families, and the staff.
The magic of Sunrise creates a ripple affect. The happiness it creates for the campers spreads to their parents and to the staff. The parents just want their kids to be happy and play like every other kid, and Sunrise gives them that chance.
14. It is a place where you could be free to be yourself, without any judgment whatsoever.
Everyone at camp is going through the same thing, so there is nothing to judge. Camp is a completely judgement-free zone. Each camper could relate to each other in some type of way, ridding anyone of their insecurities or fears. It is a place where you could just simply be yourself.
15. There are high and low energy activities to accommodate every camper.
If a camper isn’t feeling too well one day, they can still be at camp doing one of the low energy activities. Or if they're feeling better than they usually do, they can push themselves to try something they could not do before. Once I had a camper that could not swim on her own. On the first day of camp she asked me to teach her to swim. From that day forward, I did everything I possibly could to teach her to swim. On her last day of camp, she finally swam on her own.
16. The camp "bar mitzvah."
At the end of camp each year, a giant party is thrown. The counselors joke and call it the camp "bar mitzvah." Most of the time spent there usually involves counselors trying to rip kids away from the chocolate fountain.
17. They have a train that rides around camp!
Campers love riding the train. It is one of their favorite parts of camp!
18. All year, families, clubs, friends, and companies create teams and fund-raise for SunriseWalks to send these kids to camp.
Fundraising is essential to keeping Sunrise alive. Without any of these donors, there would be no Sunrise. Unlike many non-profits, you know exactly where your money is going to. Big organizations that say you're raising money for a certain cause don't always give all of the money to that cause. Proof that all donations are going where they're supposed to is seen at camp with 500 camper's smiling facing running around.
19. There are other Sunrise Day Camps in Israel, Pearl River, Baltimore, and Staten Island.
Kids literally from all over the world have the opportunity to go to camp.
20. Golden spoons.
21. There is no other place in the world like Sunrise.
Sunrise is a place to call home. It is a place to be yourself. It is a place to simply live and be happy.
To read a camper's story, click here: https://www.sunrise-walks.org/Ambassador
To learn more about Sunrise or if you want to donate, you could go to www.sunrisedaycamp.org
If you would like to come to the walk to fund-raise, go to: https://www.sunrise-walks.org/
or you could watch this video to further see the magic camp creates:
