*Campers ages six to 16 whose parents have cancer gather at Camp Kesem to talk to others in similar situations. The six-day overnight camp hosted 26 campers last year.
Credit: Courtesy of Elizabeth WoodsThis Sunday, running 3.1 miles can provide six days of escape for children affected by cancer.
On April 7, the Penn chapter of Camp Kesem — a program that provides free summer camp to children with parents who have cancer or have survived cancer — is holding their first official “Catch Karl” 5K run in Penn Park.
Camp Kesem allows its campers to escape from their difficult home situations and talk to other children with similar struggles.
“[They] can forget about the woes of being a child of a parent who has cancer,” Camp Kesem Co-Chair and Wharton junior Elizabeth Woods said.
The six-day overnight camp for children ages 6 to 16 hosted 26 campers last year, and hopes to have 70 campers this summer. Fifty-seven are currently registered. Camp activities involve arts and crafts, sports and an adventure program that includes canoeing and rock climbing.
Campers and counselors also give themselves Camp Kesem names such as Coco, Rocky Road or Freckles, allowing them to be whomever they want to be for the week, Woods said.
For camper Suzy Hercher, 10, also known as Bubbles, coming to Camp Kesem allowed her to get away from a tough situation after her father was diagnosed with cancer.
“If she had any issues they could all deal with them together,” her father, Peter Hercher, said. “[It was] so much better for her to know that she wasn’t the only one going through this.”
Suzy now uses her Camp Kesem name year-round, he added.
The counselors specifically address cancer during an “empowerment ceremony,” allowing the campers to talk about their situations at home. Counselors also hold “Cabin Chats” every night, where they ask their campers open-ended questions that can lead to deeper discussions of why they are at Camp Kesem.
“Some campers were shy at first but [eventually] talked about the situation they’re going through,” counselor and College sophomore Tamara Snow said. “Seeing that moment showed me why we’re putting all this effort into putting on this camp, and the great experience it offers for these kids.”
According to Woods, the effects of Camp Kesem are long lasting. One camper, “Lucy,” asked her second grade teacher if she was smart enough to get into Penn so that she could be a Penn Camp Kesem counselor, Wood said.
“It brought tears to our eyes to see how meaningful being a camp counselor is,” Woods added.
The upcoming race is one of many fundraisers Camp Kesem has used to raise money for their $40,000 budget this summer, since camp costs approximately $500 per camper.
In March they held a “Make the Magic” silent auction, which raised about $6,500, made $2,000 selling toast during football games and held a “zumbathon” in November, among other fundraising activities. Aside from its fundraising, the Penn chapter is funded by the Camp Kesem national organization, which receives money from the Livestrong Foundation.
Camp Kesem hopes to raise $1,000 from the race and is expecting donations besides the $10 pre-registration and $12 registration fee.
Thirty-one Penn students will be counselors at camp this summer, which runs from August 11 through 16.
“I expect it to be a lot of fun and for the kids to just come and be kids,” future counselor and College sophomore Julia Scarlett said. “I feel like we’re all affected by cancer or illness in some way that everyone will be able to help each other.”
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