Childrens’ Summer Camp giving hope to cancer patients

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – “The best thing is making new friends and having a lot of fun,” says 10-year-old Kelsey Hall as she describes, a summer camp for children suffering from cancer, called “Camp Hope for Kids.”

“They had to take my knee out and turn my leg around, so I could walk and do other stuff again,” adds Hall.

Kelsey was diagnosed with bone cancer last year. Her mother, Fiona Hall recalls the day she got the news her daughter had cancer.

“Numb, surprised, you know we heard them say the word, but we really didn’t hear anything else after that,” says Fiona Hall. “When you hear the word cancer you know you relate it to non-survivors.”

But, for the cancer patients campers hope is still alive, and, it’s all thanks to Cindy Gaskins, who started the camp three years ago. Her son, Jay, was diagnosed with brain cancer at age two.

“We’re an organization that believes in supporting the entire family, cancer affects everyone including the brothers and sisters and this is a way that we can bring those kids together and realize that they’re not alone in their battle,” says Gaskins.

The camp is a week-long event, filled with fun activities including arts and crafts and hip-hop dancing. although Kelsey is sad she will have to miss a day, she knows it’s for a good reason.

“We’re super excited because we are going tomorrow to get her second leg,” says Fiona Hall. “She’s already had one but we had a little set back…so we’re just now coming up to the next step. So we won’t be here at camp, which she’s not happy about.”

Most of the volunteers at the camp say the cancer patients are resilient. At times, they say it’s difficult to tell which ones are in remission or which ones are going through chemo treatments.

For more information about Jay’s Hope Foundation call 478-238-6360 or visit www.jayshope.org