New nonprofit, Camp Casco, gives MA childhood cancer patients and survivors a week of summer fun
Free getaway in the Berkshires allows children with different abilities to participate in summer camp activities
BOSTON, July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- After being diagnosed with a brain tumor at 15, Christopher Ramirez began attending Seany's Camp Reach For The Sky (CR4TS), a pediatric oncology camp in southern California. It wasn't long until he began volunteering as a camp counselor, going by the nickname "The Hulk". His passion for camp was apparent: no one cheered louder, played harder, or made campers feel more included – even after the brain tumor he had defeated ten years earlier returned in 2009. He lost his grueling battle in 2013, but his legacy remains. "Casco", Spanish for "hulk", represents the joy and hope Ramirez brought to campers in California, and what Camp Casco hopes to inspire in childhood cancer patients and survivors for years to come.
This August marks the inaugural session of Camp Casco, a free weeklong summer camp in Massachusetts for childhood cancer patients and survivors inspired by CR4TS. Campers will participate in traditional summer camp activities, including swimming, canoeing, archery, campfires, and more. Parents can relax, knowing that their children are in the capable hands of experienced counselors and round-the-clock medical staff. Casco provides a safe environment in which campers can shed insecurities and forge new friendships with peers who share similar experiences.
Camp Casco was founded in 2014, and was recently selected as a finalist for the 2015 MassChallenge Accelerator Program. Several founding members are involved in groundbreaking cancer research at Harvard and MIT, who also aim to help children with cancer outside of the laboratory. Other team members, including Ramirez's sister, Richelle, have years of experience directing, staffing, and volunteering for CR4TS.
Camp Casco will take place August 24 - 28 in the Berkshires. Complimentary transportation to and from the campsite is available from a central location in Boston. Specialized all-terrain wheelchairs are provided for children with mobility limitations. Children of all ability levels are encouraged to apply with the permission of their primary physician or oncologist.
Eligible campers are childhood cancer patients or survivors between 7-17 years of age. Spaces are still available; applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Interested campers should submit a completed application, available at campcasco.org/attend. Questions may be directed to [email protected], or 857-30-CASCO.
SOURCE Camp Casco
Related Links
http://www.campcasco.org/attend
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