Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 34	August 15, 2007

Hit the trail for Camp Quality

By SANDRA STONE
Messenger Staff

A prolonged illness can take a toll on any family, but when the affected person is a child, that burden seems almost too much to bear. Childhood gets lost in the maze of treatment and hospitalization; no one’s having much fun. But all is not lost.

Camp Quality was established in Sydney, Australia, in 1983 and now has over 50 locations worldwide including 12 in the United States. It provides a camping experience for children with cancer and a year-round support program for their families. Children ages 6 to 16 who are able to spend a week away from their families or the hospital are invited to attend Camp Quality. It gives them a chance to enjoy the activities other kids enjoy, and it gives their families a much-needed break.

The goal of Camp Quality is to allow kids to be kids again, to have fun, to participate in exciting activities, to make new friends and create memories that will sustain them as they continue their medical treatment. Each child is assigned a companion who provide support and encouragement during the week, and an oncology staff is on site to ensure medical needs are taken care of as well. There is never any cost to the family for any part of the program.

A weeklong camp was recently held at Camp Loucon in Grayson County with 62 children attending. Local fundraising efforts by Cowboys for Kids and Riders for Kids raised over $34,000 and covered the expenses for more than half these children. And their fundraising efforts continue as they seek to provide assistance throughout the year and another fun-filled week next summer for kids in our area affected by cancer.

The Riders for Kids benefit trail ride will be held Aug. 18 beginning at 3 p.m. Central Time at the Kendall and Bonnie Lucas home in Hudson. Four-wheelers and horse riders (taking separate trails) are welcome, and all proceeds will benefit Camp Quality. For more information about the trail ride, call Hoppy Sosh at (270) 536-3415, Dale Ford at (270) 536-3727, Kendall Lucas at (270) 536-3669 or John Sosh at (270) 536-4776.

The Cowboys for Kids benefit will be held Sept. 22 at the Breckinridge County Fairgrounds. Raffle tickets are being sold for a miniature horse, harness and horse cart as well as for harness training and veterinary services with all proceeds benefiting Camp Quality. Raffle tickets are on sale at Hardinsburg Farm Supply (270-756-2002). For more information about Camp Quality or the benefits in support of it, call the Pollocks, (270) 547-3312, Tripletts, (270) 547-6452, Soshes, (270) 536-3415 or Greers, (270) 828-3341.

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