Cancer knows no boundaries. For more than three decades, Special Love has helped children with cancer to “just be kids,” through camps, emergency financial assistance, college scholarships – and, most important, a community of support that assures these struggling families they are not alone in their battle.
Started in 1983, Camp Fantastic is Special Love’s hallmark program, offering a week-long camp adventure. The magic of Camp Fantastic is described best by one young camper … Camp made everything bad feel good again.
Our hallmark program is a week-long adventure for 7-17 patients and survivors who are within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant). Medical care is provided on-site so campers can focus on fun – a ropes course, canoeing, swimming, cooking, sports, and more! Teens have exclusive lodging and programming and 16 and 17-year-olds can participate in our LIT (leaders in training) group.
While the details for camp and our precautionary COVID measures are still evolving, we’re proceeding under the belief that camp in some form will definitely happen.
All cancer patients ages 7-17 within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant) are eligible.
Camp Fantastic Applications are available here.
All Special Love Program Participants are required to adhere to our COVID-19 Policy
It is a fun-filled week of swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, marshmallow roasting, campfire singing, pillow fighting – everything a child without cancer enjoys at a traditional camp. For a child with cancer, the experience is, well, liberating.
The adventures these special children discover at camp is therapeutic in so many ways. By the end of the week of Camp Fantastic, the once timid troupe of pediatric cancer patients has built a bond as strong as any these kids will ever experience.
I work with children who have cancer every day.
I’m always saying, ‘No, you can’t do that.’
That’s why I love helping at Camp Fantastic
because it’s the one week
I get to say ‘Yes’ to these kids.
Yes, have some ice cream.
Yes, play soccer.
Yes, stay up a little late for the dance.
Pediatric Oncology Nurse at Camp
Dave Smith
158 Fort Royal Pike, Suite 311
Winchester, Virginia 22602
888-930-2707
specialove.org
[email protected]
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