Camp Hope provides young cancer survivors summer fun
Originally published 05:18 p.m., June 22, 2007
Updated 09:51 p.m., June 22, 2007
Matt Elder is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed before he was one. But he's not thinking about that because today is a day just to be a kid.
"I like swimming, the fishing and going to the water park," Matt said.
These are all activities he will get to do at Camp Hope. Stephanie Weiter says he'll also get to play with horses.
"We do have a theme for each day of the week and today is rodeo day," said Weiter, who is with the American Cancer Society.
Matt's friend Alex has been practicing his roping skills.
"I was trying to pull that cow down," Illinois camper Alex Harkins said.
Tie Em' Up is something Matt is getting good at, but he's not here for a third year to rope cows. Instead it's to see familiar faces.
"I just come back to see everybody," Matt said.
And he's not alone. Weiter says most campers who come once come every year.
"This really does become a huge family," she said.
Alex came from Illinois, but he's not complaining about the trip. Instead he's got one thing on his mind.
"Yeah, I'm going to ride the horses later," Alex said.
Whether it's riding horses or watching a magician, these kids have plenty of time to bond with each other.
"A lot of the kids that are coming to camp are cancer survivors."
As for Matt, well, he's a survivor and can now laugh about the disease he overcame.
After naming his cancer, he was asked if he could spell it.
"Rhabdomyosarcoma...No...ha ha".
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