Cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors kept it “reel” at Reel Connection. We relaxed by the lake at YMCA Camp Carter and caught a lot of fish!
Reel Connection is a family-friendly Connect Event hosted by Cancer Care Services. Individuals and families impacted by cancer are invited to spend the day fishing, relaxing, and connecting with others!
Cancer Care Services will be hosting a fall, overnight retreat at YMCA Camp Carter. Family and friends will be able to enjoy a day of archery, hiking, canoeing, high ropes course, a campfire with s’mores, and more! You don’t want to miss it!
To RSVP, contact Megan Clifton, Client Connection Manager:
To Volunteer: Contact Megan Clifton or sign up here.
Retiro de otoño: Camp Connect 2022
Cancer Care Services celebrará un retiro de otoño, durante la noche en YMCA Camp Carter. ¡La familia y los amigos podrán disfrutar de un día de tiro con arco, senderismo, piragüismo, curso de cuerdas altas, una fogata con s’mores, y mucho más! ¡No querrás perdértelo!
Para confirmar tu asistencia, contacta con nosotros Megan Clifton, Client Connection Manager
Seventy children experienced the magic of CampCARE this year! We expanded our age range to include teens up to 18 years old, and we adored the new faces that joined us! Even though the 100-degree weather beat on, our camp leaders guided the groups through their activities with enthusiasm and joy.
And many activities there were! Campers went horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and made lots of crafts. They challenged themselves on the ropes course – and rounded out their week with yoga, cooking, and music! Most importantly, each day featured healing time to share feelings and fears, and learn coping skills from our two staff therapists. CampCARE provided a well-rounded week of fun, friends, and emotional support – for free.
During a highs and lows session, one camper said, “My high is coming to camp, and my low is leaving camp!”
CampCARE Stories of Hope
A TV star is born! Grayson shared his story with CBS. He is a young caregiver to his mom, who was diagnosed with cancer.
“A couple years ago, I was told really bad news that my mom had cancer. Every time she needed something, I was like ‘on it.’ I get to do fun activities [at camp] like climbing a big rope course, swimming, and hanging out with friends.”
For Grayson, CampCARE meant he could meet others who have also been touched by cancer in their families.
Sanaa climbed to the top of the Alpine Tower and didn’t lose her smile once! She has been a caregiver for her mom, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Sanna climbing the alpine tower.
“I really like the fishing – it was very relaxing and therapeutic – and having group time, so we remember why we’re here. We’re here because of how cancer has affected all of us, and I think that is very special.”
Sanaa’s mom was grateful her children got to enjoy a free summer camp after the family endured a financial hit at the beginning of her cancer journey.
Leo (left) and Hays (right) participate in yoga.
Leo’s life was already forever changed by the pandemic. But when his little sister, Lucy, was diagnosed with cancer, he became even more isolated from his friends and family to protect her. Leo, Lucy, and their two cousins, Hays and Samuel, were all close, so their isolation from each other was difficult.
Leo, Hays, and Samuel became the dynamic trio at camp! Lucy even came out during crafts to spend time with her brother and cousins, who were so excited to have their crew back together. Hays said he had the best week ever with his cousin! Leo, Hays, and Samuel also found the space to cope with Lucy’s diagnosis and what that means for them.
No child should cope with cancer alone
Young children, siblings, and cousins can feel lost in the shuffle of a familial cancer diagnosis, so CampCARE is an opportunity for them to feel heard and ask questions about cancer. Our counselors and staff help the kids understand and cope with their feelings, isolation, and fears. We want every kid to know they are not coping with cancer alone!
The magic of CampCARE will continue throughout the year with ClubCARE – a support group for young caregivers impacted by cancer. Campers can see the friends they made during camp and continue to learn more ways to cope with cancer.
Thank you to Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth for sponsoring CampCARE and making these special memories possible for our kiddos. And thank you to the many volunteers and staff for diving right in and ensuring another successful camp!
You can support programs like CampCARE and ClubCARE through monthly giving! Join the Hope Collective to ensure that no one has to cope with cancer alone.
CampCARE 2022 is a FREE week-long, summer day camp, designed for children ages 5-17, who have a loved one impacted by cancer. Campers get to experience all the exciting camp activities; horseback, archery, and canoeing. Campers will also spend time each day doing group therapy activities with a Licensed ProfessionalCounselor. These activities will help campers learn coping skills, and how to manage their emotions. They will also have a safe space to talk with other campers about their cancer experiences.
Join our CARE Crew this summer for a fun and impactful week at CampCARE, a day camp for children who have a loved one impacted by cancer. We have spots for a variety of volunteer roles including; camper check-in help each day, CARE CrewLeaders, and our set-up/tear-down crew. CARE Crew Leaders are responsible for safely leading campers through their daily camp activities. CARE Crew Leaders help to lead various activities that will increase camper skills, encourage a group culture that is fun and appropriate, and be a positive role model for campers.
“I love it!” One of our youngest clients of the night had a blast at the Encanto-themed selfie station! Thank you, Selfie Factor FW, for setting up the adorable selfie station so our clients could capture special memories. Our staff, volunteers, and clients smiled wide for their pictures as the magical Encanto characters surrounded them. Look at those sweet smiles!
A family takes a photo with the selfie station.
Cancer Care’s counseling intern led the therapeutic component and brought an abundance of laughter and energy. Each person drew their own door, like the special doors in Encanto, that represented their strengths and interests. Then, they drew another door that showed their true selves – fears and all!
Cancer Care’s counseling intern and Client Connection Manager lead the therapeutic component of the night.
Our volunteers enchanted the night with welcoming smiles, tasty popcorn, and hot chocolate. A perfect treat on a chilly night! The families snuggled up in their blankets and snacked on their treats as the opening song began the movie.
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” proved to be the fan favorite since everyone couldn’t help but sing along. Miss Megan even danced around the parking lot and sang to each of the kids! Just like how Mirabel unites her family, our March 2022 Connect Night brought the Cancer Care community together. Stay tuned for the next Connect Night!
Imagine the challenge of facing cancer, adjusting to new dietary restrictions, and finding the time and energy to cook for a family. Cancer Care’s August 2021 Connect Night featured Becca with Tarrant Area Food Bank, who taught our clients healthy and easy-to-make meals that the whole family can help cook!
Brianna, our child therapist, talked about how different types of foods can boost moods and calm anxiety. Then, the kids got to carefully slice cucumbers and strawberries to make a delicious cucumber and strawberry vinaigrette salad. Together, the families crafted their southwest pinwheels stuffed with chicken, spinach, and a mouth-watering cream cheese mixture. Yum!
Connect Night events build social connections by enjoying FUN activities together while teaching COPING skills. Each event has a therapeutic component combined with an engaging theme. Through the dedication of Cancer Care’s staff and volunteers, we have also made our Connect Nights more inviting and accessible for our Spanish-speaking families by offering Spanish translation.
In addition to making events more accessible, we have safely hosted every Connect Night in person this year, except for January! Clients were thankful for the commitment our staff, donors, and volunteers made toward creating a safe environment for people of all ages to form bonds within their own families and with others who are also dealing with cancer.
Supporters like youensure that those impacted by cancer in our community have FREE social, emotional, and educational programming to help them cope with cancer while expanding their support system. Connect Nights are just one of the many ways your donation brings hope and healing.
Donate early or on North Texas Giving Day, and you can become part of a regional campaign that uplifts the mission of Cancer Care Services. Spread the word by posting about your donation and using the hashtag #NTxGivingDay on social media!
Thank you for making sure that no one has to cope with cancer alone.
An incredibly brave and kind group of campers blessed us at CampCARE this year! Many campers experienced their first time catching a fish, riding a horse, and conquering the challenge course. Every child approached these experiences with enthusiasm and wonder, often surprising themselves with what they were capable of achieving.
New friends danced together, cheered each other on, and formed lasting bonds! And just as valuable as the friendships made were the skills learned during play therapy sessions held by Brianna, our child therapist. Brianna taught the campers ways to cope and share their emotions surrounding the cancer diagnosis of their loved one.
The children, volunteers, and staff brought the spirit of CampCARE to life through endless jokes, laughter, and SUPPORT. The last day of camp was full of bittersweet goodbyes… but there was also JOY because they will see their new friends again at Cancer Care!
Kaleigh and Aiden, two siblings whose mother is going through cancer treatment, made special connections with the other campers- and they learned healthy ways to process and express feelings with their mom. So CampCARE didn’t just change Kaleigh and Aiden’s lives, but their mother’s too. The family forged a new bond of HOPE and LOVE through learning how to cope TOGETHER.
Thank you to YMCA Camp Carter for providing a safe and fun environment for our clients, staff, and volunteers!
AND thank you to our amazing sponsors…
Jane Oderberg, Jason and Kelsey Pitts, Julie Vincent, Shaw’s Patio Bar & Grill, and Connecting for Conquerors for providing lunch to our hardworking campers and volunteers!
Cancer Care Services’ Connect program brings people together so they can give and receive peer support. In addition to the social benefits (which reduce loneliness and isolation), we also incorporate therapeutic activities to build coping skills. Consequently, each Connect program is fun AND healing! So unsurprisingly, May’s Connect Night featured music, laughter – and a bit of a ruckus!
May 2021 Connect Night
Nick, a new client who is a young adult, attended by himself and ended up at a table surrounded by five empty chairs. Megan, our Client Connection Manager (and social butterfly), never lets anyone sit alone! But while making her way over to Nick’s table, she realized he wasn’t there.
Instead, Nick had joined the kids in tossing a bright pink frisbee – and their smiles lit up the evening! The kids ran around, giggles filling the air, as Nick brought much-needed sunshine to the event (after a week of rain). Nick even blessed the parents by allowing them to enjoy a quick dinner without their kids.
Music Night inspired connections across all ages. Every client immersed themselves in music as they picked an emotion to add to the songs they sang. They later created their very own thunderstorm with their instruments!
Our volunteers warmly welcomed 32 individuals, including a new Spanish-speaking family! In the spirit of supporting a local business and neighbor, everyone was given a catered boxed meal from Carpenter’s.
“It was fun trying something new, and music night will definitely be back!” said Megan. She can’t wait for our next Connect event, so for information about attending or volunteering at future Connect Nights, please email Megan at Megan@CancerCareServices.org.
