Our Special Pup: Vic

 

    As I write the last blog for 2022, I write with a heart that is broken. This year will go down as one of the most challenging years for Camp Good Days and for me personally. Still, at the end of 2022, we are continuing to feel the full effect of the pandemic. This resulted in difficulty in
hiring not only summer staff but also full-time staff in our offices. For the first time ever, we have also had trouble securing needed volunteers for our many summer camping programs. Even as we resume our fundraising efforts, we see difficulties from the pandemic. We have seen a decline in attendees to our fundraisers, directly affecting our bottom line. We work hard at Camp Good Days to fundraise what we need to run all of our programs so that I am able to keep my promise to our campers’ parents that they will never have to struggle between paying bills or paying for their child to attend summer camp.

The last couple of months have been extraordinarily hard on not only me but our Camp Good Days family as we have lost friends, campers, and beloved volunteers. Between Christmas and New Year’s, we had to say goodbye to our 6½-year-old English Bulldog, Invictus. Invictus, or “Vic” as we called him, joined our family when he was just a puppy after we returned from a trip to Florida.

We traveled to Florida after we were forced to put down our colored bull terrier, Rebel, from cancer. Florida gave us the ability to get away from what was happening. We flew down to Florida with no return flight home, ensuring that we allowed ourselves time to heal and recharge. This was the first trip I had taken in a very long time where there was nothing I had to do, no meetings or phone calls. It was truly an abrupt but needed change of pace. Needless to say, after one week or so of no plans, I was bored out of my mind. One highlight of the trip that we greatly enjoyed was attending a Gold Medal Wheelchair Basketball game, hosted at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. This game was a part of the Invictus Games started the year before by Prince Harry for wounded veterans to participate in. I was amazed at how competitive and skilled the veterans were; Wendy was amazed by seeing Prince Harry. But I was grateful for this trip as it gave me some needed answers. On our trip home to Rochester, I told Wendy how happy I was that we went on this trip because it became evident that I wasn’t ready to retire, nor could I live in Florida during the summer, but most importantly that we needed to get a new dog. When summer camp began in June of that year, I did not want to have to tell the children of Rebel’s passing of cancer. I thought that the presence of a new puppy would help to avoid that conversation. Our first choice was a bull terrier, but it proved very hard to find one. We then heard of a breeder nearby with Old English Bulldog puppies. We called her to express our interest and she told us to come by and that we would have the pick of the litter. When I saw Vic, I immediately knew that he was the dog for our family. We brought him to camp that next summer and the campers were so happy to have a puppy around. Vic was a hit, everyone from volunteers to staff to campers couldn’t get enough of him and he enjoyed every second.

Our dogs have always been a special part of camp. For a child, following their diagnosis can be quite a troubling time and a time when their self-confidence might falter. They face invasive scars, the loss of hair, rapid increase or decrease in weight, or even the need for a prosthesis. During this time, it may be difficult for them to like themselves in the mirror or truly feel like themselves around others. Dogs are able to help them through this process. They pass no judgment and see them the same way they wish to be seen. It gives them a very much-needed companion at camp. One of my favorite quotes is from Bobby Bowden, a former football coach at Florida State University, he said “Money can buy a dog but only love can make it wag its tail”. That summer I never saw Vic when his little nub tail wasn’t wagging. He helped those children as much as they helped him.

Unfortunately, when we were counting down the days to 2023 to put this past year in the rearview mirror in hopes that the next would be better, Vic became very sick. We were soon told that he was in liver failure and sadly passed a few days before the New Year. I can’t help but think that the Lord put Vic in our lives for a reason. And I am sure that reason was to help every child he met at camp and love them as only he could. He was a good dog that everyone fell in love with. He has left a void in everyone that loved him, which was many. I truly believe that the good Lord does not give us more than we can handle. This new year brings a promise of a year with less covid and a big step towards normalcy at camp with our many programs and events.

I don’t drink but if I did, I would say to raise a glass to a new year filled with many good days and special times. I also want to wish everyone that has helped and supported Camp Good Days a new year filled with peace, good health, and much much love.

 

God Bless,

Gary

Remembering Tilahun Belete Gushish

 

He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. — Revelations 21:3-4 (verse from T’s Facebook)

This year has brought with it both joy and pain. I reflect on what this year has meant to me and who I will be forced to leave behind in the New Year. These last couple of weeks have been especially hard for me and the Camp Good Days family. We have lost many special people that were the backbone of this organization and helped me build it into what it is now; some of those have left us far too soon.

Tilahun “T” Gushish was a beloved member of the Camp Good Days family and a very special person to me. I first met T several years ago when a friend of mine, Dr. David Korones, asked me about our international campers’ program. He asked me if we would accept children from Ethiopia that were struggling with cancer. Dr. Korones had a patient that he was treating at Golisano children’s hospital that he helped bring over from Ethiopia. We had hosted children from all over the world but never had the opportunity presented itself to host a child from Ethiopia. I was very excited to be able to expand the program to more children. We knew we were blessed when T arrived that summer to attend Camp Good Days International Camp. Tilahun’s love of life and hope were contagious. He could truly light up any room that he entered. I marveled at the fact that such a young boy that had already survived poverty, homelessness, and now struggling with cancer was so strong and joyful.

 I will never forget when I brought the Rhinos head coach down to camp to see the children during T’s first summer at camp. Bob Lilley was the coach at the time, and he was mesmerized by what T could do. He said that T could do with one leg which some of his players couldn’t do with two! He made quite an impression on the coach that day as he did with everyone he met. He was just such an impressive young man you couldn’t help but feel that way.

Due to COVID, we lost touch for a couple of years, but in August of this year, we were able to reconnect. I drove down to camp with Wendy and as I was walking to my cabin along Teddi Lane, I saw T running toward me. I tell him how great it is to see him, and he returns the sentiment. He goes on to tell me that I might not know it, but that Camp Good Days saved his life and how happy he was that he came to camp. I was astounded by his words. I said to Wendy later in our cabin, is there a better job in the world than what I am blessed to have? I reveled in how amazing it was that I have this opportunity to change a child’s life like T’s. How can you put a value on that?

I was so grateful that throughout this past summer we were able to renew our relationship and that I was able to present Tilahun as 2022’s Courage Award recipient. This award is given at our annual Courage Bowl to campers who are an example of courage, strength, and determination to all the children and families served by Camp Good Days & Special Times. T was all of these and more, he was a true inspiration to me and all of the Camp Good Days team.

It was extremely hard for me when I heard that Tilahun lost his battle with cancer. What gives me some peace is that I know that T is in heaven watching over us all. And because of this, he will be with us always. In times of distress, we will feel him giving us strength and in times of sorrow, he will give us joy. We will never leave T behind as he is with us always.

T’s services were this past Wednesday and Thursday. They were beautiful and exactly what I believe T would have wanted, everyone he loved together sharing cherished memories that they had with T. I was also so grateful to be able to meet T’s doctor from Ethiopia that played a pivotal role in getting T over here for treatment. Without his effort, we would not have been as lucky as we were to meet T.

In his 20 years of life Tilahun was able to make an incredible impact on those who knew him. I know I speak for many when I say that T will be missed greatly. How he touched us and the impact that he had on every person he met will be with us forever. Camp Good Day will not be the same without having T there, but I know that he will be watching over us each and every summer.

God Bless,

 

Gary

In Memory of an Angel: Dave Stebbins

   

  These are unprecedented times we are living through. COVID has had a tremendous impact on our society, and we will feel it for years to come. Here at Camp Good Days, we are just starting to come back to some sense of normalcy- or the closest thing we can get to it. We are finishing up our summer schedule for 2023 and hope that it will be published by January.

    With this year coming to a close I have been reflecting on the past year and the blessings that I have been gifted; something that I think we should all do more. All too often we let our hardships in life outshine our blessings. When in life more often than not our blessings exceed any hardships, we face. When we look at it we all have so much to be thankful for. I have been taking some time to reflect on all the wonderful people the good Lord has put into my life to build and keep Teddi’s dream alive. I have met such remarkable people every step of the way that were able to step up, share their skills, and fill every need within Camp Good Days.

    Unfortunately, I have also had to deal with the loss of people who have come into my life thanks to Camp Good Days. This past weekend one of these beautiful souls has passed. He was an angel to Camp Good Days and exemplified what it means to be a part of this organization.

    Dave Stebbins was a Camp Good Days volunteer ranger for a number of years. Dave’s wife, Bobbi, works for Waterloo Container, a major sponsor of our Wine Auction Dinner. Through her involvement, I had the opportunity to meet Dave. Dave was a state trooper and offered his skills to volunteer down at our recreational facility on Keuka Lake as our Camp Ranger. Camp Good Days Rangers are current or former law enforcement officers stationed at camp that volunteers their time to ensure the safety of all our campers, staff, and volunteers. Dave served as our camp ranger for many years and became a crucial part of the Camp Good Days family.

    Sadly, last year I learned that Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As he went through treatment and surgery, you would never know how sick he actually was. His spirits were always high, and he was always looking for what he could do for others. Dave was not only a true law enforcement professional, but a distinguished officer and committed Camp Good Days volunteer. He was a dedicated father to his two sons, Ryan & Thomas, and a loving husband to his wife Bobbi. Dave left behind a truly special family.

    I will forever cherish our great memories together down at camp with the children, along with our many conversations. I will miss Dave dearly; he was such a special friend. He will forever be a part of Camp Good Days and part of our memories.

    At camp, we have a ranger station. I am hoping upon camp’s opening this summer that we are able to place a plaque on the ranger’s station dedicating it to the brave women and men, like Dave Stebbins, who have served with us at Camp Good Days. Thank you all for your incredible service to our organization. I know that Dave is in heaven forever looking over all of our campers.

 

God Bless,

Gary

Honoring Our Caregivers in the Month of November

November is a month dedicated to gratitude, family, and giving thanks. Obviously, I have plenty to be thankful for this year, including all of you. The Camp Good Days community has been so kind and thoughtful during this difficult time of recovery and healing. I, for one, am still getting used to not running around from meeting to meeting every day. However, I’m enjoying spending more time reflecting on this past year, my life, and all that Camp Good Days has done for so many families, including my own.  

 

This month is Honoring Caregivers month. We want to take these next 30 days to celebrate and recognize the individuals and families that have been such tremendous support systems for patients of all kinds. No matter the type or stage of cancer, the devastation factor is the same on families. I have had personal experience in hearing this kind of earth-shattering news, with my own daughter, Teddi. I just remember the feeling of having no control. There was nothing I could really do to make her better, except be there for her. Becoming Teddi’s caregiver made me reevaluate my entire life; why was I here? What am I meant to do? What will I be remembered for? Hence, Camp Good Days was born.

 

My experience as a caregiver has given me the opportunity to relate to families all over the world. We are able to connect on an entirely new level, as not everyone has the ability to sit by the bedside of a loved one and watch them go through such pain during treatment. You are putting someone else’s life before your own, which not only is overwhelming at times, but is extremely humbling as well. Teddi taught me to live boldly, as life is fleeting. 

 

Since Camp Good Days started in 1979, I was always under the impression that I would continue to support and be there for anyone who needed me, until I needed a caregiver of my own. For the last 6 months or so, my wife has been keeping a close eye on me, making sure my recovery process is continuing to go in the right direction. I finally saw the impact that caregivers have–if Wendy hadn’t been stubborn enough in making sure I got to the hospital or got the very best care, I definitely wouldn’t be here. As many ups and downs as there are in this journey, it’s all worth it because I know she has my back. 

 

As we honor the caregivers of our own campers, I want you all to ask yourselves, “what am I here for?” Obviously, you’re not put on this earth to witness a loved one endure cancer, but you are here to make them smile, love them, and be there for them every step of the way. Some may heal and some may not, but regardless of the circumstances, Camp Good Days is a place that welcomes all, allowing you to create joyous memories that will last a lifetime. 

October Blog

 

Sometimes, I feel like the luckiest person in the world. Why, you may ask? For the last 43 years, I come into my office and I’m excited to continue changing the lives of children affected by cancer and sickle cell anemia. No two days are ever the same–one day, I could be hearing updates about how one camper is in remission, while the next day, I’m sitting on the sidelines of the Courage Bowl, watching our honorary coaches and cheerleaders in awe as they experience their first collegiate football game. After this year’s game, it became quite clear to me just how lucky I am to have started something so special, so close to my heart. I think Teddi would be proud of what Camp Good Days has become.

Since Courage Bowl’s inception 16 years ago, I have, again, been so lucky as to combine my two loves: Camp Good Days, in memory of my daughter, and football, the game that absolutely feeds my soul. This one night allows for a few campers to experience a collegiate football game, as well as interactions with the players. It’s a bonding experience for everyone, especially our honorary coaches and cheerleaders. This year, however, was extremely difficult. Usually, we have a practice where the campers come to Growney Stadium, be with the team, and receive their jerseys that the players signed. For Courage Bowl XVI, that practice didn’t happen. This didn’t really impact the coaches and cheerleaders that could attend the game, but for one of our honorary coaches, Craig, he was too sick to attend.

Thankfully, our Camp Director, Caitlyn, was able to bring Craig his jersey, so it felt like he hadn’t missed the game at all. I walked into the office this past week to come across a photo that Craig’s mom sent in–Craig was beaming from ear to ear while wearing his jersey! It was amazing for me especially, because this shows how a simple football game can change a life in such a monumental way.

Craig’s mom, Kim, continues to post updates on his treatment on CaringBridge, where supporters can log on and send their best wishes to Craig and his family. The website can be found below:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/craigy

Join me in keeping the Winter family in your thoughts and prayers, and maybe say a little prayer for me as well!

I’m glad I had the opportunity to share Craig’s wonderful story with you all, and I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!

Much To Be Thankful For

 I am so happy to report that just recently, I have been discharged from my at-home care, and I am finally starting to get back into the swing of things. I'm still doing out-patient PT twice a week, so we're not completely out of the woods yet, but I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have reached out to Wendy and I. The notes, thoughts, prayers, check-ins...they all meant so much and have certainly played a huge role in the process of getting me to where I am today. It's been a long couple of months, but I'm making improvements and am grateful for each day that I'm here, doing what I love. 

As Summer 2021 comes to a close, I just want to reflect on all the achievements that Camp Good Days has made, especially during this difficult time. We were finally able to utilize camp this summer, Caitlyn and the staff did a fantastic job in completely transforming the format of our programs, turning them into a family-oriented camp. The property was used every week and the response was overwhelmingly positive. I'm so proud of what they have accomplished, it reflects on what this organization stands for. Our golf tournament was also a success, it was great to see people still coming out to support us, despite our current challenges with Covid-19. 

Now, as the Fall season is approaching, we are planning for our annual Tour de Teddi, along with plenty of other fun events that you all can put on your calendars. Our Junior Good Days is on September 18 from 11am-3pm, Courage Bowl is October 2, and our Fall Fest Weekend is October 30-31. I give all the credit to our hardworking staff–they have risen above all expectations and continue to amaze me with not only how much they care about Camp Good Days, but their willingness to adapt to any challenge that may come their way.

In our 43rd year, I want to make 2021-2022 the best year yet! With that being said, in order to make this year the best and most successful it can be, it all starts with our volunteers. For more information on how to get involved, contact our office at (585) 624-5555. I look forward to working with you soon. 

Lastly, I want to give all my love and thanks to Wendy. She single-handedly took care of me, our two dogs and cat, the house, all while answering many calls and emails for Camp Good Days. She stuck by me through it all–which is a true testament to how strong our marriage is. When a crisis arises, it has the tendency to bring out the worst in people. There is always the possibility of a relationship being torn apart, especially when stress and anxiety levels are high. Thankfully, this was not the case for us. She is my rock and my biggest supporter. The best decision I ever made was marrying her. 

I can't thank you all enough for being my champions and helping me push through on this difficult journey. I may not be where I want to be just yet, but I'm getting there, making strides every day.

Wishing you all Good Days and Special Times!

God Bless!

Gary

A Health Update From our Founder

 As many of you know, since March of this year I have spent the majority of my time and efforts dealing with an

enlarged prostate and all that goes along with that and I wanted to give you all a quick update. Dr. Louis Eichel,
Chief of the Division of Urology at Rochester General Hospital will be performing the necessary surgery this
coming Monday, June 28, 2021.

While I am nervous because this is a different type of surgery that does not remove the prostate but will
reduce the overall size to minimize the risks of further debilitating symptoms and issues, Dr. Eichel feels
confident with the surgical plan and hopes he can correct the problem that initially led to my Emergency Room
visit and subsequent hospital stay a few months ago.

Wendy thought I was having a stroke and 911 dispatched the Mobile Stroke Unit Ambulance, which is
phenomenal with advanced medical technology on-board. I did not have a stroke, but learned I was in Acute
Renal Failure and the decision to have dialysis was canceled after three days waiting to see if my kidney
function would start to improve, which it did. I am so thankful for Dr. Mark Gestring, Dr. Jean Joseph and the
entire medical staff and care team that treated me at the University of Rochester Medical Center. I had to
spend time in the in-patient rehabilitation facility and upon being able to return to the comfort of my own
home, I continue to have weekly sessions of physical therapy and occupational therapy with University of
Rochester Home Care specialists, along with multiple in-person and online appointments with my doctors.

I have been working really hard to get better and stronger and I have made significant improvement so that Dr.
Louis Eichel, and Dr. Rick Constantino, my Primary Care Physician and dear friend, feel I am ready for the next
step in recovery, which is this coming Monday’s surgery.

I, like anyone, am nervous about having major, invasive surgery, but it was never a question of if, but just when
would the surgery take place and now is the right time. It will be a lot to go through the surgery and the
recovery to follow, but I am very much looking forward to getting this behind me and moving forward with the
next chapters.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who have reached out to me, or to Wendy, via phone, text, email,
cards, visits, etc. It means more than words can express to have so many people who love and care about you!
So many of you have asked how to help...I am one who never underestimates the power of prayer, so the only
help I ask for is that you say a prayer for my family and I that all goes well on Monday with the surgery and my
recovery to follow.

I look forward to chatting with you all again soon to give you another update and focus on the coming weeks
and months ahead, not just about my personal situation, but about the many things happening and coming up
at Camp Good Days!

Wishing you all Good Days and Special Times!

God Bless!
Gary

Looking Forward to Summer

I hope that this blog finds you well and in good health. We, at Camp Good Days, are continuing to adapt and adjust, and are looking forward to warm weather and the promise of camp.

With the governor's announcement that residential summer camps will be allowed to operate this summer starting in June, we are excited to announce that we are offering Family Camps in July and August! This means that our summer will look a little different than normal. Families will be able to come during a 3-day, 2-night stay to spend time at camp together. Each family will get their own cabin to stay in and all safety precautions will be taken. There will be a limited number of families staying on property at the same time. These programs will be organized similarly to our regular programming, meaning that families who have a child with cancer will be in the same program, families with a parent diagnosed will be in the same program, etc. This way, they will be around others facing similar challenges. A lot of research and planning has gone into making this decision and we are very excited!

We also have two great raffles going on. The Camp Good Days Car Raffle is happening again this year thanks to Vanderstyne Toyota and Toyota USA. And the Foreigner Guitar Raffle is also going on. Thanks to Lou Gramm and his wife Robyn, this guitar is signed by all past and present members of Foreigner. The drawings will both be held on April 15. Please support these great raffles by purchasing tickets or sharing the information to families and friends. You can learn more here.

Lastly, we are excited to announce that the 39th Annual Teddi Dance for Love raised over $120,000 despite the challenges with the pandemic! This is the most they have ever raised! This is the longest-running fundraiser at St. John Fisher College. I want to give special thanks to Emily and Sam, the Chair and Vice Chair of the dance, and President Rooney and Mrs. Rooney for their continued involvement and support. It is thanks to events like these that we can continue providing our programs free of charge.

While this past year has been difficult, we are hopeful for the future and are looking forward to being able to have our camper families and some of our wonderful volunteers down at camp this summer. Make sure to keep looking at our website, social media accounts, this blog, and listen to our monthly radio show with WYSL, to stay up to date on all things Camp Good Days.

Welcoming 2021

I hope that all of you have had a peaceful and pleasant start to the new year. Like many of you, all of us at Camp Good Days were counting down to the end of 2020, ready to put it behind us. 

This new year is made more special with the change in administration in Washington, D.C. This comes with the hope of better days ahead although, as we know, there are no guarantees. I personally, and our staff at Camp Good Days believe that 2021 will be a better year. The development and distribution of the vaccine is a cause for hope, and hopefully by the time summer comes around, the distribution will be enough for us to move forward to a new normal. We are busy planning for our 42nd summer and are developing multiple plans depending on what we can do. Our goal is to make this summer the best one yet! To see our summer camp update, please visit our website.

As I am sure you could have guessed, 2020 was not the best year for fundraisers. Some of ours had to be cancelled, others were postponed, and most of them did not raise the amount that they usually do. If you would like to help us going into the new year, please spread the word about our car raffle and guitar raffle. 

Once again, Vanderstyne Toyota and Toyota USA have generously donated the newest model of the Toyota Corolla SE. The tickets are 1 for $20 or 3 for $50 and all proceeds go right to Camp Good Days. The drawing will be held on April 15, 2021. 

Lou Gramm and his wife, Robyn, with the help of Doug Emblidge have donated a signed guitar from all past and present Foreigner band members to raffle off. The money raised from this raffle will go towards renovating the music hut down at camp, which will be re-named in honor of a good friend of Camp Good Days, singer/songwriter, Bat McGrath, who passed away from cancer. The tickets are 1 for $10 or 3 for $20. You can learn more about both raffles here.

Unless things change, we have some exciting events coming up in 2021:

February 19-20: The 39th Annual St. John Fisher Teddi Dance for Love

May 24: The 38th Annual Tournament of Love

June 15-18: The 21st Annual Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition

September 11: The Tour de Teddi

November 6: The 21st Annual Wine Auction Dinner

These events help us raise the much-needed funds to provide our free programs and services, so please spread the word about these events. We always need attendees and volunteers! You can learn more about these events here.

As we move forward into this new year, there are many ways for you to stay up to date on all things Camp Good Days. You can listen to our monthly radio show which airs the first Thursday of every month at 6:30PM on WYSL 1040AM 92.1FM. You can also listen to the podcast of the show on the WYSL website. We will also post all updates on our our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). 

One of our mottos at Camp Good Days is “Adapt and Adjust,” and we appreciate you being patient and adapting and adjusting with us. No family is ever prepared to hear that their loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and we, at Camp Good Days, will make sure to be there for every family who needs us. 

While we are all missing camp, I urge you to send us some thoughts about how camp has changed your life, or why you hope we will be able to have our in-person camping programs this summer. These anecdotes will be great to hear and will provide some inspiration for us moving forward into the summer. Please send your thoughts through Facebook Messenger or by emailing info@campgooddays.org.

I wish you all a great start to 2021 and I hope to be able to see everyone this summer. 

A Surprise from Senator Rich Funke...

I hope that this blog finds you well during this crazy year. Like you, we at Camp Good Days are working through the current struggles and are adapting and adjusting to what life is throwing at us. We are working hard so we can continue providing programs and services for families affected by cancer and sickle cell anemia. The ultimate goal is to continue to be there for every child and family who needs us.

In order to generate the financial support we need, we have had to make some changes to our fundraisers and special events. We have held our Annual Wine Auction Dinner for 20 years, but this year, we had to re-imagine the dinner as an online auction. We are going to have hundreds of wine packages along with other exciting items. The auction goes from November 12^th at 10:00AM until November 19^th at 8:00PM. You can view and bid on the items here.

Thanks to Vanderstyne Toyota and Toyota Motor Corporation, we once again have a car to raffle off! This year, the car will be a 2021 Toyota Corolla SE. Tickets are 1 for $20 and 3 for $50, and the drawing will be on April 15^th, 2021. Every single dollar raised from this raffle goes directly to Camp Good Days!

We also have the guitar raffle still going on! Over the years, Rochester's own Lou Gramm, from Foreigner has been an avid supporter of Camp Good Days. Gramm, along with his wife, Robyn, have put together a very special raffle item! In honor of the late Bat McGrath, a well-known singer/songwriter who was also from Rochester and a friend of Camp Good Days, Lou Gramm has donated a guitar signed by past and present members of Foreigner. The proceeds from this raffle will go towards renovating the music activity hut at Camp Good Days’ recreational facility in Branchport, NY. The hut will be re-dedicated in memory of Bat McGrath. Tickets are 1 for $10 or 3 for $20. The drawing will happen at the dedication of the music hut in the spring of 2021.

Information for both the car raffle and the guitar raffle are on our website!

For me, personally, I had a nice surprise when I received a call from Senator Rich Funke, asking if he could come into the office and meet with me. I have known Rich for many years, starting back when he began his career working at a local radio station and later became an anchor with News10NBC. We have a special bond since we both have lost a child to cancer. He presented me with an award, the highest award the New York State Senate can present to a citizen, the Liberty Award.

“The New York State Senate Liberty Award is the state’s highest honor. It is presented to citizens who have merited special commendation for their actions on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers and their community.”

I was very humbled because of the significance of the award and because it is one of the last things Rich will have done before leaving the State Senate. It will be on display in our office in Mendon and once our museum is completed at camp, it will be placed there for all to see.

 

As the holiday season approaches, please keep the children and families of Camp Good Days in your thoughts and prayers. We will continue to be there for everyone diagnosed with cancer and sickle cell anemia who needs us. Cancer doesn’t stop during pandemic and neither will we!

A Camp Good Days Pioneer

In October, we will be starting Camp Good Days’ 42nd year. It is crazy to think that over these years, we have served over 50,000 campers from 22 states and 36 foreign countries. This accomplishment would never have happened without some very important people. One of those people was Adele House, who passed away recently.

I have often talked about how special some of the Camp Good Days pioneers were in the early days and how they helped to make Camp Good Days a reality. It wasn’t until 1982 that we had an office and our first paid staff person; in the beginning, we were all unpaid volunteers who had a dream of making a difference in the lives of children diagnosed with cancer. When I had said that I was starting a camp for children with cancer, most people didn’t really understand what I was trying to do or were fearful because the word “cancer” was the most feared word in the English language, and when it was associated with a child, it was too much for people to think about. The friends who were close to me knew what I was going through and when I asked them to help make Camp happen, they did. They were willing to loosen their ties, roll up their sleeves and do what they needed to do to help make the dream come true because they knew children in our community like my daughter, Teddi, were in need. Camp Good Days was the result of their commitment and hard work. 

When Adele became involved with Camp Good Days, she was the secretary to former Family Court Judge, Anthony Bonadio. As those of you who know me are aware, typing is not a skill that I have, and in order to get everything squared away to be able to host Camp including getting out correspondence, setting up meetings, etc., I needed a great deal of help. Adele offered to help and was able to do it all while working around her full-time job. She found the time to send out notices, press releases, get paperwork done, and she would do whatever she needed to do to help make Camp a reality. Adele and her daughter, Barb, also volunteered at Camp each summer to get the dining hall ready for mealtimes and to clean up after. 

Children and adults have been able to experience the magic of Camp Good Days because of people like Adele; people who felt that they had a calling to do some good in our community. I often say that the two greatest gifts we can give to one another are our love and our time. Adele certainly gave plenty of both, and I will miss her very much.

Cancer Doesn't Stop During a Pandemic and Neither Do We

During this time of uncertainty, we don’t know what the future might bring. We have a dream of normalcy that might never come to fruition. At Camp Good Days, we have been using the phrase that one of my staff members created, “Cancer doesn’t stop during a pandemic and neither do we.” At Camp Good Days, we are committed to helping the children and families in our community who need us the most. This time has been very busy despite changing schedules and working with 50% of the staff in the office at any given time, but I am blessed with a dedicated staff who have never been more challenged than they were during these past few months. 

We had our 20th Annual Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition in July and this year, we really had to follow our motto of “adapt and adjust.” When we were confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to rethink the whole competition. We still had a lot of entries that had been sent in and we knew we needed to do something. We met with our committee which included our Head Judge, Bob Madill; our Flighting and Results Manager, Teresa Knapp; and our Director of Special Events & Fundraising, Jamie Varble, and came up with some changes. We determined that since we weren’t having the residential summer programs and we couldn’t host the competition at our usual location of the Holiday Inn in Downtown Rochester, we could host the competition down at our recreational facility on Keuka Lake. We had to move the competition from April to July, the judges who were normally asked to participate could not travel out of country or across certain states, and we had to change the format of the competition. There was great cooperation between our staff, judges and volunteers. While there were not as many judges present and not as many wines and spirits entered, we had to marvel at how much support we received.

When we first started the FLIWC, we started it for two reasons. At the time, there were a lot of wineries popping up in the Finger Lakes and many of them felt that their quality wine was not being recognized. Thanks in part, to the competition, the Finger Lakes wines have received more recognition and are more readily recommended by wine professionals and wine enthusiasts. This year, having the competition hosted at our facility on Keuka Lake brought the competition to the heart of the Finger Lakes and emphasized why the competition was started in the first place. By having it at the facility, the judges were able to see what Camp Good Days was all about. A picture is worth 1,000 words but being there in person is even more impactful. It is a great credit to our staff, volunteers and judges that we were able to make it happen. 

This was the 37th year for our annual golf tournament, the Tournament of Love. For the past 15 years, we have been able to host the tournament at Monroe Golf Club. Originally, the tournament was supposed to be held in May and was then rescheduled to August. There were many changes made to accommodate social distancing guidelines including getting rid of the dinner and award portion of the tournament, staggered tee off times, and boxed lunches. Rather than a dinner, we had hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and the clams that are such a hit every year. For me, it was nice to be home around 6:30PM rather than 10PM and I am sure the golfers appreciated the shortened program as well. We will make less money from the tournament this year, and we had less golfers than normal, but we were able to put on a world-class tournament during a difficult time, and we are very proud of that. 

The Buffalo Gala, which is one of our largest fundraisers in Buffalo, was scheduled for April at the Hyatt. We were unable to hold the event in person and so we made the decision to move the event to an online auction. The generous sponsors agreed to let us keep their pledges and we were able to generate a good amount of money through the online auction. 

Camp Good Days does a lot to help children and families impacted by cancer and sickle cell anemia, and all the programs and services are provided free of charge. These programs cost money, some are very expensive, and even though we are not having the in-person programs this year, we hopefully will be able do so next year. These fundraisers have become key factors in us raising the money to fund these programs and services. Despite all of the challenges and the uncertainties that have been presented to us, we have a group of people who all have a common passion and goal, who rose to the occasion to adapt and adjust to raise money for Camp Good Days. 

To make sure that we are still doing as much as we can to help the children and families who need us, we adapted and adjusted our summer programs. We were unable to have the camping programs, so our Junior Good Days program was made into a virtual program, and we will also be having two weeks of virtual programming for the rest of our young campers coming up later this month. This time can be very isolating for our campers and we are trying to do everything in our power to help them know that they are not alone and that their Camp Good Days family is there for them. As I said earlier, “Cancer doesn’t stop during a pandemic and neither do we.”

A Life Lived in the Service of Others

 

*Photo Credit: St. John Fisher College*

 

I was saddened to learn earlier this week that a friend of mine, Father Joseph Trovato, passed away after 30 years of serving the students at St. John Fisher College and the parishioners at Christ the King Church in Irondequoit. He was the college’s first director of Campus Ministry and served in that position the longest.

 

I can honestly say that every time I was able to see him, he would have a smile on his face. He always asked about my daughter, Teddi, when she was going through her battle with cancer and he was always thinking about the children of Camp Good Days. Lou Buttino, a professor at St. John Fisher, helped to start the Teddi Dance for Love and wrote “For the Love of Teddi.” He introduced me to Father Joe many years ago.

 

One of the Teddi Dance for Love traditions at St. John Fisher, the blessing of the feet, happens the Friday before the dance. The head of campus ministry blesses the students as they lay down with their feet in the air. Father Joe always loved this tradition. He would come by to see the beginning of the dance and would also be there at the end to celebrate with the students. A few years ago, the current director of Campus Ministry, Father Kevin Mannara, surprised me by bringing Father Joe to the dance. That was the highlight of that year’s dance for me.

 

The lives that he touched during his time on Earth are immeasurable. He was truly a saint here on earth because he was always concerned about others before himself. He left everyone who had the chance to meet him feeling better from the experience. I’m sure as he enters the kingdom of Heaven, the Lord will say that he was a good and faithful servant who led a good life in service of others.

 

Moving Forward in this New Normal

 

I hope that you, and your family and friends are doing well during this crazy time of uncertainty. I know for all of us at Camp Good Days, this has been a difficult and stressful time in our lives. It is the first time in 41 years that we will have no summer residential camping programs for the children and families we serve. This decision was not made lightly and has been hard for everyone including our campers, staff and volunteers.

 

On June 27th, it was Teddi‘s birthday. It is hard to believe that she would have been 51 years old. It was a beautiful day in Rochester, so I took flowers to her grave and sat on the bench that I put in a few years ago behind her headstone. I was the only one in the entire cemetery, so I decided to sit for a while and reflect. I started to ask many questions that I will unfortunately never know the answers to: Who would’ve been that special partner in her life? Would she have had or decided not to have children? What would she have done with her life? And what would my life had been like had Teddi not been diagnosed with cancer? I just tried to make sense of these questions and what could have been had my life not changed forever.

 

 

One of my favorite sayings is something Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” For me, I look back on my life and I realize that I have been doing what I was put on this earth to do. I was initially trying to bring children with cancer out of the dark ages and give them the opportunity to get back some of the childhood illness had stolen from them. I am amazed at how far the organization has come after starting as a simple summer camp for Teddi and 62 other children from Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, who were all dealing with cancer. I started the camp at a time where few people would accept the idea that a child could have a disease like cancer and still be able to have a camping experience. It was also during a time when people did not care about the quality of the lives of children diagnosed with cancer, they only cared about finding a medical cure. Over the years, the medical side has gotten better and we have had better treatments. As a result, children with cancer live longer than in the past, but there is still a need for places like Camp Good Days where those children can have their recreational and psychosocial needs met.

 

I am pleased that with the help of so many volunteers and a group of truly dedicated professional staff, Camp Good Days has continued to be there for children and families affected by cancer from all over the world. On the shores of Keuka Lake and in the town of Branchport, we have created a very special home away from home for our campers. Over the past 41 years, Camp Good Days has served over 50,000 campers from 22 states and 36 countries, and $.90 of every dollar goes directly towards our many programs and services that we provide. Now, we must address the future and plan for what will become the new normal.

 

We are living during a time that we have never seen before in our history. We are dealing with not only the immense civil unrest but also the crazy pandemic that we are struggling with trying to find answers to. There is no question that both have been totally mishandled and the aftermath will affect us for many years. Thinking of all this, we at Camp Good Days are busy trying to come up with a plan that we can implement for our 2021 fiscal year that will address that new normal while hopefully being able to provide safe and fun programs. I think the most important responsibility that we have is given to us by a child’s parent or guardian who has entrusted Camp Good Days with their child’s safety. As I have told our staff and volunteers every summer during training, we need to make sure that we send the children back home in better condition than when they were given to us.

 

I ended my session at Teddi‘s gravesite the same way I do every day, by asking Teddi to be my guardian angel and to help me make the right decisions for the special organization that I am in charge of, especially now when we have had to deal with so much. I hope that she’s proud of her old man and as long as, in my heart, I feel that she is, we will continue to meet these challenges head-on and continue to advocate for the very special children and families in our community who need us the most.

Adapting and Adjusting During COVID-19

I know that it has been a while since I have written a new blog post; we have been busy with so many things. In these uncertain times that we are all living in right now, I thought it would be important to let you know that Camp Good Days is still here, because people still need our help. Unfortunately, just because we are dealing with this new pandemic, it doesn’t mean that no one will be affected by cancer. People will still come back from the doctor after being told that the pathology report came back and they have cancer. And despite all of our fears of the unknown in regard to the Coronavirus, I am still convinced that a diagnosis of cancer is even more scary, and that a cancer diagnosis creates enormous thoughts, questions, and fears, and I want people to know that we, here at Camp Good Days, are still here ready to help. There will always be someone to talk to.

This is the time of year where Camp Good Days is very busy, and it is when what we do really shines. We are getting ready for our summer camping programs, including our Junior Good Days day-camp program and our residential camps. We are still looking for wonderful men and women to volunteer at the programs and summer staff who we hire to help at the facility during the summer camp season. There will be a new surprise this summer with the addition of a new building at camp—a museum that will house and share some of the history of Camp Good Days while also creating additional indoor space when we need it.

Right now, like everyone else, we are working remotely, but if people leave their name and phone number on the voicemail machine at the office, the appropriate person will get back to them as soon as they can. All staff are also available via email. Eventually, this crisis will be behind us, and we want to be ready to go into full motion without skipping a beat. While this pandemic is forcing us to work in a different way by working from home, the work still must go on. Throughout this time, we will continue to be here for those families that need us. There is no question that these are uncertain times and our summer programs may be impacted depending on what will happen with the remainder of the school year, since we cannot run our programs until summer recess has begun. But, we are truly blessed with a dedicated staff of people who never look at what they do as a job, rather they look at what they do as a ministry, and no matter what their job is, they have a desire to help make a difference in the lives of those we serve, so we are all still here as a resource.

We know that these uncertain times are hard for everyone, especially for many people who have lost their jobs and are struggling financially, but if you have the opportunity, or are able to help, please keep our children and our families in your mind. Our spring special events and fundraisers have been postponed, so we are not bringing in much revenue. At this time, donations are what are helping to keep our programs going, and no amount is insignificant. I was reminded of this when I received a letter a few days ago from Deacon Paul at the Groveland Correctional Facility with a donation from the inmates. The inmates are given 25 cents, 50 cents, a dollar, or more, when they attend mass each week, and when there is enough collected, they choose a worthwhile cause that they would like to make a charitable donation to. They chose Camp Good Days as their charity of choice, and it really meant a lot to me since right now there aren’t a lot of checks that are coming in. This shows you how meaningful and important what we do is. Here are people who have sacrificed the little money they have access to in order to help children and families touched by cancer. Our support comes from many places, but it means so much to me when it comes from people who believe, no matter their situation, that they want to help others. Over the years, thanks to donations like that, we have served around 50,000 campers from 22 states and 36 countries, and we are certainly hoping that we will be able to continue being there for every child and family that truly needs us.

Please know that all of us at Camp Good Days are keeping you all in our thoughts, and please reach out if you need anything.

Losing Two Very Special People

Things at Camp Good Days continue to be extremely busy as we transition from being down at camp to being full-time at our headquarters in Mendon.  Added to the busyness was the recent news that two very special people to Camp Good Days and to me personally had passed away.

Laurie Allinger was one of our original campers.  She was a beautiful young lady who, following her cancer diagnosis, lost one of her arms and all of the supporting tissue around it.  Despite this, Laurie never let anything stand in her way of living life to the fullest.  I will always remember being up at Camp Eagle Cove in the early years and watching the children participate in our archery program, and seeing this beautiful young lady putting the bow between her toes, sitting on the ground, and pulling the string back to shoot the target, and very often making bulls eyes.  I remember her on Canandaigua Lake doing wind surfing by holding the rope in her mouth, with I and many of our volunteers marveling at her enthusiasm and how she would not let anything stand in her way.  If there was a poster child for camp’s first two years, it was Laurie. 

From the very first year, she bonded with my daughter, Teddi, and in fact I still remember the day that they proudly came up to me and told me that they were blood sisters.  Laurie was always there for Teddi.  After the first summer at camp, Teddi had a recurrence of her cancer which caused her to have a lot of challenges.  Teddi was confined to a wheel chair because of the excessive amounts of radiation she went through and she had gone blind because the brain tumor had grown and shut off her optic nerve. Laurie loved Teddi and made a large effort to include her in everything she did, despite Teddi’s unique challenges that she had.  Teddi died from her cancer on February 27^th of 1982 and Laurie just died from the side effects and challenges of her cancer in September of 2019.  All those years that Laurie had weren’t always good ones and the illness took a large toll on her body.  It was tough learning about her passing and further learning that her death was not an easy one, but the consolation is that I know that she is in heaven with Teddi and all of the other children and volunteers from Camp Good Days, and that she is no longer in any pain.  I can picture Laurie and Teddi once again renewing their special relationship. 

The second passing I learned about was the passing of Bat McGrath.  I really didn’t know Bat until some of our volunteers had an idea to have a concert featuring some music artists who got their start here in Upstate New York.  Bat was one of the first people who was asked and agreed to do it.  Unfortunately, the concert never happened because of the flooding that had occurred down at camp, resulting in over a half of a million dollars in damages.

Later on, when Bat travelled from his home in Nashville to visit this area, he decided to visit camp and see it for himself. He said that when he was going back home, he had the desire to write a song about Camp Good Days.  One day, my assistant told me that she had received an email from Bat along with a song that he had written about camp.  It was difficult for me to hear it and understand it, so I had my assistant email him back and ask if he could send it to me on a CD.  Bat went out, rented a studio and recorded the song so that I could have a CD version of it.  When I listened to it, I fell in love with it, and I shared it with my staff who also fell in love with it.  So, I invited Bat when he came back the next summer to actually come to camp and see camp in session and play his song, which he did with his wife.  While he was at camp, he said it would be great if we could put a video with the music so that I or my staff could use it when we made presentations about Camp Good Days.  So, Bat made some calls to his friends and he got someone who would be able to create a video for the song.

A few days before Christmas that year, I got a call from the person who put the video together asking if I could come out to their office and see the finished product.  And I have to admit, I was a little taken aback not only because the video was so well done and so beautiful, but because, unbeknownst to me, they had slipped in a few videos of Teddi and I.  I have to say, if I have used that video once, I have used it 100 times and every time I do, I feel so fortunate that Bat came into my life. 

Like many of you, I am sure; I was shocked to learn that he had been diagnosed with cancer last year.  And when I had heard that he was going to play some of his music at Lovin’ Cup, I called one of the owners, Leslie Zinc, to ask if she could get me into the sold out show, and she made sure that Wendy and I had seats at his last concert.  It was emotional to see him because he had lost probably 40 pounds and he was weak, but the showman that he was, he stood and performed for the whole concert, and then he even had CDs available that he sat down to sign for his fans.  Every time I see that beautiful video, I will think of him.

I wanted to write this blog because I think it is important that we recognize these two very special people.  In Bat’s case, we are going to dedicate the music hut at camp to him.  And then for Laurie, we will do a special activity at camp in her honor next summer. 

If you would like to see the video of Bat’s song, please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biQWpUcRvbY.

Jumping into Fall

As we head into fall, and we approach our next fiscal year, we are turning our main focus from our camping programs to our various offices. 

Two weeks ago, we had the 4^th Annual Teddi Bowl game on Thursday, September 5^th between Victor High School and Canandaigua High School, held at Victor.  It was a great night with over 4,000 fans in attendance.  I want to give a special thanks to the coaches, athletic directors, staff, and players who helped make the game possible.  Our campers had a wonderful time being able to be part of the football teams and cheer squads.  It was the opening night for Section V Football and the weather was perfect. The Victor Blue Devils ended up defeating the Canandaigua Braves with a final score of 31-14, but the real winners of the game were the campers from Camp Good Days who participated. 

We also had our annual Tour de Teddi bike ride on Saturday, September 7^th at our camp facility on Keuka Lake.  This year, there were over 380 riders in attendance making it the most participated in Tour de Teddi for Camp Good Days to date! The day had beautiful weather and the riders were able to enjoy their ride, have a barbeque along with wine and beer tastings, and walk around the camp. 

We have our 15^th Annual Courage Bowl coming up on October 5^th between the St. John Fisher College Cardinals and the College at Brockport Golden Eagles.  This year, it will be held at Growney Stadium at St. John Fisher College. Kick-off is at 6:00PM!  If you would like to purchase tickets for the game, please call our office at 585-624-5555.

If you or anyone you know would like to help Camp Good Days by donating a few hours of your time, we are happy to announce that we will once again be holding our annual Kazoo Fest with the help of JCPenny and the area malls.  You can come and help sell kazoos and spread the word about Camp Good Days.  The Kazoo Fest goes from the end of November until the end of December.  As it gets closer to November, you will be able to sign up to volunteer on our website.

We had a small ceremony the other day at a place that is near and dear to my heart.  We had a bench made in honor of my good friend who passed away in February of 2017, Sal “Skip” DeBiase, and placed it in “Teddi’s Place” in Highland Park.  Skip was a dear friend of mine, someone who loved Teddi very much, and a great friend to camp.  I can honestly say that without his help, Camp Good Days wouldn’t have been able to serve the over 48,000 campers that have come to our programs over these past 40 years.  If you ever want a quiet place to reflect, please stop by “Teddi’s Place” and sit on the new bench.  It is just down the steps from the water reservoir. 

If you would like to stay updated on all things Camp Good Days including our events coming up, please tune in to our monthly radio show with WYSL 92.1FM and 1040AM and follow us on Facebook.  You can also get the radio show podcast on the WYSL website: http://www.wysl1040.com/podcasts.php.

Our 40^th summer was full of amazing programs and wonderful people, and I am so very proud of how Camp Good Days has grown over these years.  When I go to bed at night I think about how Teddi would be proud of everything that we have done to keep her spirit alive.  I know that Teddi is looking down on not only me, but all of our campers, staff, and volunteers who are experiencing the wonder of Camp Good Days.

I will leave you with a quote that I found.  I liked it so much that I ordered a print of it and hung it on my wall across from my desk so that I can look at it every day:

May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being
May you walk gently through the world
and know its beauty all the days of your life