My team
My Story
I was visiting for the holidays when the surgeon called with news from the biopsy. As I stood in the kitchen, I heard him say 'cancer' - you could hear defeat in his voice. Until that point, Scarlett's surgeon was sure that the mass in her liver was nothing more than a cyst, and her surgery, routine and common. In that moment, I heard my sister collapse to the floor. I am not a parent, but I felt the depths of her despair as if Scarlett were my own.
Meanwhile, my sweet 5-year old niece sat in the living room, recovering from an invasive liver surgery just days before, oblivious to what the next 7 months would bring. I went over and gave her a hug, shifting her attention away from the commotion long enough to give her parents the time they needed to compose themselves. As I sat with her, trying to act normal, every part of my being was afraid; afraid for her, afraid for my sister and brother-in-law, and afraid for my other niece (then only 6-months old) who would go on spend the next several months tolerating me as her primary caregiver as her parents swapped shifts at Sickkids.
Childhood cancer is the pits, folks. Nothing will make you appreciate how ridiculous your worries, complaints, and annoyances are until you stand by and watch a child fight an unimaginable fight, knowing there is next to nothing you can do to ease her pain.
My niece, Scarlett, is braver than most folks I know, and so are her parents. Campfire Circle not only gives these kiddos a chance to just be kids, but also gives their parents the opportunity to connect with other parents who "get it". It's a place where families get a chance to turn something awful into lasting friendships and memories.
I humbly ask that you take a minute and make a donation, or simply share this page to bring awareness to the incredible work nonprofits are doing to make cancer just a little less crappy for the little ones battling it.
<3 Scarlett's Aunt P
Description
Childhood cancer changes lives. So does camp. And so can you.
A diagnosis of childhood cancer changes life in an instant. For kids and families, it can suddenly feel like everything is about cancer. Simple childhood joys like friendships, birthday parties, or sports teams being left behind in the need for medical appointments, hospital stays, and long absences from school.
Whether it’s in a hospital setting, in the community, online or at overnight camp, CAMPFIRE CIRCLE* fills the void, creating safe spaces for kids to be kids, so families can be families, at no cost to them.
It’s where curiosity and confidence, bravery and acceptance come to play, and healing through happiness is on the agenda, every day, and in every way! Kids and families are never alone, because there’s always room for one more in the circle.
Your support of Sporting Life 10K ensures that CAMPFIRE CIRCLE’S programs continue to reach 1,700 kids and their families every year. Your gift will make life-changing experiences possible.
*Did you know that Camp Ooch & Camp Trillium merged in 2020, and that we have a new name? Announcing … CAMPFIRE CIRCLE! We aren’t changing what we do—we're just changing our name.
Achievements
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| May 21 | Konata Lake | Undisclosed amount |
| May 06 | Perpetua Labs Ltd. | $571.27 |
| May 06 | Leah Hyslop -Perpetua | $22.03 |
| May 05 | Jo and G | $161.58 |
| May 05 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| May 04 | Ivana Kreckler | $54.24 |
| May 04 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| May 04 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| May 04 | Laurier Mantel | Undisclosed amount |
| May 03 | JLS | $54.24 |
