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closeCamp Agape gives kids, parents a break
Cancer patients and their families can focus on other aspects of life
Susan Schell
of the Gateway
Agroup of laughing children gather around a kneeling adult, pelting him with shaving cream. As the camp counselor and others like him become slathered with the foaming white liquid, the children scream with delight.
Two young men wearing muscle padding and grey sweatsuits meander through the crowd and joke around, speaking with Austrian accents.
“Hans and Franz” is the theme for the camp, director Emilie John said, based on the “Saturday Night Live” characters.
But the underlying theme is happiness — everyone is here to have a good time. And a good time is a profound need for these campers, struggling under the dark cloud of cancer.
Camp Agape Northwest on Raft Island is a cost-free, weeklong camp, complete with cabins and tents for cancer victims and their families.
“The philosophy is that, if a child has cancer, the whole family is sick,” John said. “This gives them a break and relief from the suffering.”
This was the first year at the camp for Rick Fisher, whose family is still reeling from the punch they received when his 16-month-old daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with the disease three months ago.
“We’re still processing it,” he said. “We’re in survival mode. This gives us a chance to absorb it.”
Fisher found out about the camp through his oncologist at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma.
“He made sure Livy’s (white blood cell) count was up so we could come here. It’s great to talk to other parents who know what you’re going through and that you’re not alone.”
Cancer sufferers must have their white blood cell count up to a certain level to attend the camp, because they have to be healthy. Nurses are on staff 24 hours a day to monitor medications and the children’s health. Children are paired with a counselor who acts as their mentor for the week.
“This gives the parents a chance to relax without having to keep an eye on the children,” John said. “We have a secure environment here, so mom and dad can take a break and not have to worry.”
“The first day, they’re bewildered, not knowing what to do without the kids,” John said. “At the end, they’re relaxed, happy and feel renewed.”
The camp purposefully admits a 50-50 mix of new families and returning families to create a unique blend of communication between the two.
“They get a sense of community here,” Agape board member Sharmarie Dares said. “This is somewhere in the world they get to feel normal and they don’t feel alone.”
Wally Caudle said attending the camp changed his life because it introduced him to people who know what it’s like to have a child with cancer.
“The main thing is, you share your story with people who have truly been there,” he said. “Other people are caring, but they don’t really understand 100 percent. Here, people finish your sentences for you.”
His daughter, Jessica Caudle, said the camp made her happy.
“I didn’t expect it to be so funny,” she said. “We did a lot of arts and crafts, and I made a lot of friends here.”
Those friendships can turn out to be everlasting. Camp counselor J.J. Jester, 18, first attended the camp with his family four years ago, when his younger brother was suffering from cancer. He applauded the camp for giving the victims’ siblings attention, too.
“When kids get cancer, their siblings get thrown off to the side,” he said. “Here, they give as much attention to the siblings as much, if not more, than the patients.
“It changed my life, seeing all these little guys up and running around,” Jester added. “It made the problems in my life seem so miniscule.”
The parents also are given a heavy dose of consideration. During the week, men are whisked away for an afternoon of golf, and the women are treated to high tea. Date Night lets weary parents enjoy their company together after spending so many hours attending to their child’s needs.
“There is a huge opportunity to give respite to families who’ve been fatigued,” Dares said.
Sarah Brown, whose son, Parker, is struggling with cancer, explained the breath of fresh air the camp gives to parents with a cancer-stricken child.
“You feel like you have to do all these horrible things to your child,” she said. “This place is like heaven on earth. You feel you get a little chance to go to heaven, because you’ve been through hell.”
Camp Agape Northwest
The camp at the All Saints Center on Raft Island has existed for 13 years. The church owns the property where the camp is located.
The camp is an offshoot of The Ladies Philoptochos Society, members of the Greek Orthodox Church. Philoptochos is the root word of “Philanthropy.”
The first camp was held in 1989 at Saint Nicholas Ranch in Fresno, Calif., to serve as a retreat for families with children with cancer.
The camp is supported by fundraisers and sponsors like The Greek Orthodox Philoptochos Society, The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, The Emerald Queen Casino and the Kitsap County Rodeo/Dance for a Wish.
The next fundraiser for the camp will be the Seattle Chocolate & Wine Ball on Nov. 8. For more information, visit www.seattlechocolateball.com.
On the Web: www.campagapenw.org.