Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Travelers Championship Magazine - Index

• MORE THAN 15,000 CHILDREN
ARE SERVED THROUGH CAMP
PROGRAMS EACH YEAR.
• MORE THAN 1,000 INDIVIDUALS
VOLUNTEER AT THE CAMP
EACH YEAR.
• THE COST TO SEND A CHILD TO
CAMP IS $2,500. ALL CAMP
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE
OF CHARGE.
from Honduras, it was not only his first time at
Camp, but his first time away from his mom. “It
was Session One,” he recalls. “I was in Yellow 5. I
was really nervous and English was not my strong
point. In Honduras, when you have cancer, people
don’t like to share food with you, because the
illness has a stigma there. Even my cousins and
uncles would not share a drink with me. I was talking
with my counselor Tim Hotchner, when he asked if
I wanted a sip of his lemonade. We stood there
talking, sharing a cup of lemonade, and it was the
best thing ever.”
This experience is an apt example of what is
typically referred to as “the magic of Camp.” Yet,
how do you put that into words for people who
have not experienced Camp? Sometimes the
most significant occurrences are the most simple.
The true magic of Camp lies in allowing small,
precious moments of community to take place.
Executive Director Jimmy Canton has put it this
way, “What some may think is trivial – creating a
safe place in which sick children can re-experience
their childhood – is not just important, but urgent
in the lives of many of our campers. ‘Camp is
comforting,’ ‘Being surrounded by other kids who
have what I have is comforting.’ I have heard that
sentiment shared countless times by our
campers.”
It is through the generosity of many people that
the programs of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
are made possible.
For more information about The Hole in the Wall
Gang Camp, visit www.holeinthewallgang.org.
Official Championship Magazine 37