It’s beginning to look a lot like summer and here at Camp Good Days that means we are heading into the time when we really shine and when we do what is most important – provide all of our summer programs for the many, many children, adults and families we serve!
Who would have believed that what was started 32 years ago, to provide a residential camping experience not available in our area at that time for my daughter, Teddi, and 62 other children with cancer (21 from Rochester, 21 from Buffalo, and 21 from Syracuse) would grow to become one of the largest organizations of its kind. In 1979, Camp Good Days was the fourth organization of its kind and over the years many of the programs and services started right here have been used as models for other cancer treatment centers and organizations around the world. We can all take great pride in all that we have been able to accomplish!
Since our inception we have served more than 43,000 campers from 22 states and 26 foreign countries – and we will add to that this summer with campers registered to attend from at least one new country and possibly some new states. By all reports and accounts, this summer is shaping up to be one of our largest ever, with more campers and volunteers registered and a number of our programs filled to capacity.
I have been blessed over the years to have so many special people come into my life and share their talents, time, expertise and love to help keep Teddi’s dream and memory alive and I know that this summer many of those same people, and some new friends, will be a part of the magic and spirit that is Camp Good Days.
I want to apologize to those of you who think it is about time that I updated this blog, but for those of you who know me, you know that my computer skills are something that I am working on improving and I haven’t had much time to work on those skills, as we have been extremely busy. We have recently taken down the old motel building at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility and will soon begin construction on a new, small building on the main side of the property, which will provide some much needed additional accommodations. We are also working on making some improvements to one of the girls’ cabins and diligently preparing for our re-accreditation with the American Camp Association (ACA), which takes place every three years. Not to mention getting the facility ready for our campers and volunteers, training all of our volunteers and summer staff members, and holding special fundraising events, which help provide the funding to make our programs possible and available free of charge for the participants.
Some people have been asking why Camp Good Days has embarked on the initiative of Cancer Mission 2020…The End Of Cancer By The End Of The Decade, including my granddaughter who said to me, “Grandpa, isn’t that a daunting task?” and yes, it is a daunting task, but my response to her and to others is that I am sick and tired of going to funerals for people who have lost their battle to cancer. In 2009 I was shocked to have to attend nine funerals for our campers and I couldn’t understand why this was still happening. Why are 11,000 Americans dying from cancer every single week? These people don’t live in a vacuum, they are someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, grandparent, and as was in my case – they are someone’s child! How is it that we have not found the answers to cancer? I started calling and talking to people from many of the major cancer treatment centers that I have met over the years and that I have great respect for and I was not prepared for what they were telling me. I started meeting with our Advisory Groups in the cities in which we have an office, as well as with members of our Board of Directors and we felt that there must be more than could be done and that we could help lead the way in finally finding the answers to this fight against cancer.
Recently, a group of MBA students from the Simon School at the University of Rochester completed a project on Camp Good Days regarding brand recognition and image and what they concluded was that while people know Camp Good Days and all the things we have done, we live in a much different world today than 32 years ago with the constant clutter of advertising, messaging, social media, etc. In their opinion, as an organization that has always been an industry leader, Cancer Mission 2020 was something that Camp Good Days could lead the way on and it would provide a new and unique way in which to break through that clutter and remain a leader and model well into the 21st century.
We announced and launched the Cancer Mission 2020 initiative and website in December 2010 and over the course of just a few months we have made some great strides in taking Cancer Mission 2020 from just an idea to a true initiative that is going strong and growing every day. Thousands have visited the site and are signing the Cancer Mission 2020 Petition, joining us in the belief that finding the answers to cancer needs to be brought to the forefront of our nation’s attention and agenda and that the answers will come only through cohesive and collaborative actions.
We have an active and involved Cancer Mission Committee that is working hard on plans and strategies for the Congressional District Cancer Summits, of which we have four scheduled for this August throughout Upstate New York, and the Cancer Mission 2020 College Campus Advocate Program, which involves having college students serve as ambassadors and advocates for Cancer Mission 2020 on their respective campuses. Many students are signed up representing colleges across New York State and beyond and they will have their first training and informational meeting next month. One of the goals is to have representation from all colleges and universities in Upstate New York by the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
Cancer Mission 2020 is something that Camp Good Days can help to lead and spearhead, as we have demonstrated over the years our unique ability to bring people together and truly make a difference by making things come to fruition without bureaucratic obstacles.
I clearly remember when we opened our own Recreational Facility on Keuka Lake, I invited some special friends to join us for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Murray Light, who at the time was the publisher of The Buffalo News, asked me afterwards what I wanted to do next and I responded that I hoped that one day we would be able to close the Camp because it would no longer be needed. That was in 1989 and as we look at the number of campers registered to take part in our programs this summer, the number of people being diagnosed with cancer, and the number of people losing their battle to cancer, the need for Camp Good Days has never been greater.
I know this post is long and I promise there will be briefer and much more frequent posts to come, but I wanted to take some time to not only update my blog, but share with all of you what is going on here at Camp Good Days and reiterate our commitment to our core mission and values. The mission of Camp Good Days and Special Times is to be internationally recognized as the premier service organization that enriches the lives of children and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges. I want to assure you that all of us – our small staff and the thousands of volunteers who give so much of themselves in small ways and big ways to help make all that we do possible – are fully and completely committed to our mission.
Finally, please know that I have an open door policy – if you want to become involved in any of the programs, services, initiatives, volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, have ideas, suggestions, thoughts, concerns, or questions - my door and my phone line are open!
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