Krupesh’s story

It was Jan 2004, when I was diagnosed with Leukemia at Sick Kids. I was admitted for about a month, thereafter I had to go for chemotherapy for about 2 to 3 days a week and sometimes more. So all that time at the hospital isn’t that fun, and you get bored after awhile and want something new and challenging.

Well, it was my first year of treatment and probably in April or May when I started hearing about camp. I felt like finding out more about camp because it would be a nice change from the hospital atmosphere and would be just what I needed.

The nurses and volunteers started talking about camp and how great it would be and said that some of them would be going there to help out in the med shed. There not only would be a lot to do like fish, kayak and camp but also the nurses would be there. To be honest I was worried about who would be giving me the chemo and if they would be gentle as the people at Sick Kids or not.

And another thing that persuaded me to go was the opportunity to make great new friends and not only with kids but with great counsellors. We filled out my registration and I was set to go to session 3 and I couldn’t wait.

Then the unthinkable happened, a week before camp I was admitted to Sick Kids. The doctors advised me not to go to the camp. This was a disappointment to me because I was eager and all set to go to camp. I had to wait another whole year.

2005, this was the year I would finally get to go. When we reached camp we were greeted by volunteers who were dressed up and waving at us. One person was dressed up as Darth Vader and was waving his light saver. Many of the volunteers were in a long arch shape which leads up to a field. Everyone ran through the arch and when we were settled we got separated into our cabins. I was with Gabriel, Robert, Nathan, Graydon and Tyler. My counsellors were Heather, Greg, Ian, Bryce, John, and the next week we were joined by Tory and Duncan.

Camp was more than I thought it would be. It was worth waiting an extra year. Camp was not there just to make new friends and have fun. It was there for us to learn and to be appreciated. I know I learned a lot of stuff like skiing. I learned how to always keep your hands straight and knees bent and to get up slowly. I saw my friends, and if they could do it at least I could try. Of course I wasn’t scared and I wanted to do everything that was there to do.

The “steps in the right direction”, which are little footprint stickers, were another great encouragement. We gave them out to other kids and counsellors to show them how much we appreciate each other and for the new things that we can achieve. Some things that I thought my friends had achieved were like Tyler, for example, had gotten up on the long rope in wakeboard, and jumped a couple of waves.

Then there were the special awards. They were another thing that the counsellors gave out to the kids to show them that they appreciate a big achievement or special thing that they have done.

Other things we did there were arts & crafts we got to make shrink art and paddles. Drama, where there was a Variety Show and each cabin did a little script and acted in front of the rest of the camp. We did this circus and I was an acrobat and Gradon was the camp king, Tyler was on the devil sticks and Robert the blind marksman. And in the end we splashed the counsellors with water.

There was also canoeing and kayaking, where we learned the j-stroke, c-stroke, draw, etc. We also got to camp out for a night at the other side of the lake. We had steak and s’mores. There was also rock climbing and the different parts were the rock wall, vertical playground, and the rope course. I really liked the vertical playground and the jump.

And there are some things that I will never forget about camp. Like my first time on the skis and the night on the other side of the lake, all the friends I made like Tyler, who taught me to fish and Robert who taught us to see with our hearts.

And even the great counsellors and the great camp spirit that encouraged everyone to succeed. And especially when the camp would dine, we would sing songs like the “hula hop” and the “robot” also the one that annoyed most was “announcements”.

Thank you very much. It is you the counsellors, volunteers and sponsors who were caring, supportive, who encouraged us to do our best and to be independent. You gave us self-confidence in our skills and you always showed us what is right. You were like our teachers and parents for the summer. And, it is you who gave us such a great place to be. It is you who laid the bricks for the foundation of our great camp. And I thank you all for your kindness.

Other Experiences

“I love the fact that I can do weird stuff without people thinking I’m a lunatic. I can be who I am.”

“My favourite thing is that no one expects you to do everything – they just ask you to try.”