A Sad and Difficult Week

This past week has been a very difficult one, where in the midst of the excitement and challenges of the final weeks of our 33^rd summer of programs, we have lost two very special members of our Camp Good Days’ family.

Last Wednesday, while at our Recreational Facility, I learned that a very special friend of mine, and someone who had been instrumental in helping me to start Camp Good Days, had passed away.  Former Monroe County Legislator and Family Court Judge, Anthony F. Bonadio died last week after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. 

Judge Bonadio was always the first to stand up for young people in our community and while most would use Family Court as a stepping stone to bigger positions, Judge Bonadio was honored and pleased to serve as a Judge in Family Court for two full terms (20 years).

Judge Bonadio was a good husband to his wife, Marilyn, a good father to his four children, and loving grandfather to his grandchildren.  In addition, he was a very special friend to the many, many children and families at Camp Good Days and was someone who could always be counted on to help out. 

In the early hours of this Tuesday morning, Melinda Gippe Andrus lost her battle to cancer.  Over the past 33 years, since I started Camp Good Days and Special Times, following the diagnosis of my youngest daughter, Teddi, with a malignant brain tumor, I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people.  People of all ages, who in small ways and big ways, have had an impact on my life and I like to believe that each one of them has left me with something that has helped me to become the person I am today. 

Des Stone, the former Editor of the Democrat & Chronicle’s Editorial Page once described Camp Good Days as a place where the human spirit soars and a place that brings out the very best in mankind. 

Some of those that truly exemplify the very best in mankind are the children I have met who are forced to grow up and become adults much too quickly.  No child age nine, ten, 12 or 13 should have to come face to face with their own mortality.  One of the cruelest parts of being a child diagnosed with cancer is that it robs the child of that very special time in all of our lives called childhood.  That time when you have a sense of invincibility and feel like you will live forever.

Melinda, affectionately known as Mel, was one of the young people I have been blessed to know and she first came into my life 25 years ago when she was originally diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13.  Mel came to Camp Good Days first as a camper and stayed as a volunteer.  She carried her battle with cancer throughout her life, with some obvious physical and visible signs and when she looked in the mirror or met new people, everyone could tell that she had gone through a difficult experience and some challenges.  However, Mel never let cancer define who she was.  She finished high school and went on to college.  She passed her nursing boards and worked as a nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital, working her way up to being a supervising nurse.  She married an exceptional gentleman who became her life partner and best friend.  Despite all that was going on in her life, Mel always found time to care for others.  I was always so impressed with her many accomplishments so when we had an opening on the Camp Good Days’ Board of Director’s I invited Mel to serve.  Not only was she an involved and active member of the Board, she continued to volunteer at the many sessions of our Women’s Oncology Program, bringing her love of jewelry-making and spending the day with the women teaching them how to make beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets, and she brought all of her own materials and supplies for them to use.

Mel was someone who was my hero.  No matter how bad or challenging of a day I had, when I was with her, she always made me feel better, and I am confident she had that effect on all those she came into contact with.  She truly helped you to look at things and keep them all in the proper perspective. 

This past February, Mel’s cancer returned with a vengeance and this past week SHE made the decision to stop the treatment and have hospice care in her home.  I was honored that her husband called me on Monday and asked if I would visit her that afternoon.  I am so grateful I was able to do that and that I had the chance to hold hands, one more time, with this gentle and extraordinary young lady, the day before she left this world. 

Melinda will never know how she touched so, so many lives through being an inspiration for others by the way she handled the difficult hand in life she was dealt, through her work as a nurse, and through her giving spirit as a volunteer.  She impacted my life so much and I will carry our friendship and those things we shared with me all the days of my life.  Our community and our Camp Good Days’ family has lost a shining star and I have lost a very special angel. 

I ask that each of you keep Judge Bonadio and Melinda’s families and friends, as well as all of the children, families, and volunteers who are a part of Camp Good Days in your thoughts and prayers.

Summer Update

Where does the time go?  It is so hard to believe that we are in mid-August already and that the summer residential camping programs, here at Camp Good Days, are winding down in the next couple of weeks.  So much has happened this summer and so much is still yet to come, but the time just seems to be going faster and faster.

I am happy to report that we have had an amazing summer, thus far, and hundreds of campers have had the opportunity to experience the magic and spirit of Camp Good Days, firsthand.  We just completed the annual Doing A World Of Good Program, which is for children with cancer from countries around the world who come for two weeks and are joined by two different groups of children with cancer from the United States, each group coming for one week.  This summer, we welcomed campers and chaperones from Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos, Germany, Ethiopia, Czech Republic and Slovakia.  We also had a group of young people with cancer from Central Florida join us.  Our international campers and chaperones had an amazing two weeks at Camp Good Days, as did the campers from the United States.  A few of the highlights included a visit from the Rochester Rhinos Soccer Team; a visit from the New York State Police Helicopter and the New York State Police K9 Unit; and visits from the Rochester Police Department’s Mounted Patrol and Scuba Units.

On Wednesday, July 25, 2012, we hosted our Annual Summer Open House and we were so thrilled that New York State Lieutenant Governor, Robert Duffy, along with his wife Barb; as well as Joseph D’Amico, Superintendant of the New York State Police, and his wife, Judy; New York State Police Captain, Michael Cerretto and his wife, Lisa; Craig Doran, Administrative Judge for  the Seventh Judicial District of New York; Monroe County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley; Yates County District Attorney, Jason Cook; Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. David Korones; as well as my good friends, Steve & Patty DiGennaro and many, many others, took the time out of their busy schedules to visit and spend some time getting to know the campers and volunteers.  Lieutenant Governor Duffy surprised us all when he presented us with a very special Citation on behalf of New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo.

On Friday, July 27, 2012, our international campers and chaperones came to the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters in Mendon, where we had a picnic dinner and a special welcome from Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, and City of Rochester Deputy Mayor, Leonard Redon.  They both presented the group with Proclamations, on behalf of Monroe County and City of Rochester, and we are so thankful that they both took the time to come out and meet our guests.  Following the picnic, everyone headed to the Rochester Rhinos game at Sahlen’s Stadium, where the campers were excited to see the players they had met at Camp a few days before and we were all happy that the Rhinos won the game! 

For some of our campers from the Rochester area who were not participating in the Doing A World Of Good Program, we were once again invited to be the special guests of the Buffalo Bills Community Relations Department for Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College.  The group of campers that attended last Thursday’s afternoon practice had a great time watching practice and playing in the interactive area, and were thrilled to have the chance to get autographs from some of their favorite players, including Ryan Fitzpatrick and Marcell Dareus.  Special thanks to Gretchen Geitter, Vice President of Community Relations, her staff, and the players, for making our campers’ visit to Buffalo Bills Training Camp one they will remember for a long time!

This week we have our younger campers who are participating in Teddi’s Team, which is for those children, ages 8-12, who are dealing with cancer.  So far the weather has been beautiful and the kids are having a great time.  Next week we will host Camp B&ST, which is for children, ages 8-17, who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer within the past three years.  Next weekend we will have the Brain Tumor Family Retreat, which is a weekend camping retreat for families wherein one member is dealing with a malignant brain tumor.

We will finish our residential camping programs for children with the Camp Good Days / Rochester City School District Leadership Program, which is for students from the Rochester City School District, who are making the transition from elementary school to middle school this coming September. The primary goal of this special program is to give the students an overall experience that includes a variety of social and educational activities and special guest interactions, which are designed to help prepare them for their Middle School and High School years and to provide them with some of the knowledge and tools they will need to successfully navigate their future.  During this program, which is a collaboration between the Camp Good Days’ Partners Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) Initiative and the Rochester City School District, we like to have special guests, who are life models and leaders within our community to come and speak with the participants and share some of their experiences and words of wisdom and I am so happy that the US Marshal for the Western District of New York, Charles Salina; Monroe County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley; and Reverand Lawrence Hargrave from Asbury First United Methodist Church are all willing to take the time out of their busy schedules to visit the program and speak to the participants.

We also have a few more sessions of the Women’s Oncology Program coming up later this month and in September.

While our camping programs are in full swing, much work continues on a variety of activities and events and it is really hard to imagine that the football season is about to get underway.  Plans are beginning to come together for this year’s COURAGE BOWL, the annual football game between the St. John Fisher College Cardinals and the University of Rochester Yellowjackets, to benefit the children and families at Camp Good Days, which will be played on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Growney Stadium on the campus of St. John Fisher College, with kick-off slated for 7:00 PM. This year’s COURAGE BOWL will be the final showdown in the series between the Cardinals and the Yellowjackets, which promises to be thriller on the field, and we anticipate a sold-out stadium of students, alumni, families and fans.  We are excited to start the next chapter of the COURAGE BOWL when the Cardinals will face The College at Brockport Golden Eagles in future games.

As has been done with all previous COURAGE BOWL games, Camp Good Days will select six boys, all of whom are campers in Camp Good Days’ programs and are dealing with cancer, to serve as Honorary Coaches, three with each team.  The Honorary Coaches will attend a practice with their team the week of the game; will meet their team for the pre-game meal; be in the locker room with their team; lead their team on to the field; be at midfield for the coin toss; and coach from the sidelines during the game.  Camp Good Days will also select four girls, also campers who are dealing with cancer, to serve as Honorary Cheerleaders, two with each squad.  The Honorary Cheerleaders will attend practice with the squad the week of the game; meet the squad for pre-game preparation and cheer with the squad during the game.

To learn more about this year’s COURAGE BOWL, including how to support the event and get involved, check out the COURAGE BOWL page on our website, www.campgooddays.org, or contact Laura Osborn at 585-624-5555 or losborn@campgooddays.org. 

We have had a couple of special fundraising events take place over the last few weeks, including the first annual Just Clowning Around 5K and Bocce Bash.  Both events were new for Camp Good Days and by all accounts the people who attended and participated had a great time and both events will help us to continue to be able to provide our programs and services free of charge for the participants.

We also have some special fundraising events coming up soon.  The Corey-Coffey Golf Classic will be held on Monday, August 20, 2012 at Penfield Country Club; the Friends of Ramon Santiago Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, August 27, 2012 at Midvale Country Club; and we are excited to be bringing back the Tour de Teddi Bike Ride on Saturday, September 29, 2012, around Keuka Lake. 

For those of you in the Central New York area, the Dr. John L. Dadey Memorial Golf Tournament will take place on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Drumlins Country Club and for those of you in the Western New York area, the Fashion Show will be held on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Salvatore’s.

For more information and details about all of the upcoming events and activities, be sure to check out our website, www.campgooddays.org and be sure to like us on facebook, www.facebook.com/CampGoodDays79. 

In regards to CANCER MISSION 2020, we are working now on the final draft of the initial plan, which will be the first step in addressing cancer in Monroe County, where cancer is now the leading cause of death.  We look forward to officially presenting the plan this fall and to sharing that with all of you.  Please be sure to check out www.cancermission2020.com, sign the petition, and share the site with your contacts. We need everyone’s help and support in order to reach our goal of ending cancer by the end of the decade. 

Last, but certainly not least, Camp Good Days has been blessed over the years to have many, many special friends and supporters who go above and beyond to help make all that we do possible.  Two of those friends are Jay and Jay Jay Vanderstyne of Vanderstyne Toyota. For the second year in a row, Vanderstyne Toyota, with support from Toyota Motor Company, is making it possible for us to hold the Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle! 

Every single dollar raised through the sale of raffle tickets will enable us to provide some good days and special times for some children and families in our community who need them the most!

The prize is a 2012 Toyota Corolla-S Model, featuring sunroof, cruise control, Bluetooth, power windows, and power locks, performance and fuel efficiency, plus an impressive list of safety features.  Tickets for the Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle are only $25.00 each and may be purchased by contacting Camp Good Days at 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135 or online at www.campgooddays.org.  Tickets may be purchased using cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.  The prize winner must be at least 18 years of age. The drawing will take place on New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31, 2012. 

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to not only win a brand new car, but to help support the many children and families at Camp Good Days!

Summer in Full Swing!

Forgive me not being as good about these blog updates as I would like to be, but after reading this, you will understand how crazy things are here.  One only has to step outside to realize that we are truly into the summer season and here at Camp Good Days we are busy with a lot of special events, activities and our residential camping programs. 

A couple of weeks ago, on Wednesday, June 27^th, which would have been my daughter Teddi’s birthday, we hosted “Life, Cancer, and the NFL…An Evening with NY Giants’ Mark Herzlich” at the Rochester Plaza.  As I shared previously, we had to really live by our motto of adapt and adjust, as Mark was originally scheduled to be in Rochester on June 5^th as the Special Guest for our Tournament of Love golf tournament, but was required to be at mandatory practices that week.  Mark wanted to honor his commitment to the children and families at Camp Good Days and although we had minimal time to plan, promote, and prepare, I am pleased to report that the event came together and exceeded all of our expectations.  A very special thank you to The Flanders Group, ESL Federal Credit Union, and the Democrat & Chronicle for their sponsorship and support of this special evening! 

The more than 200 guests in attendance had a fantastic, laid-back evening with stadium-style foods served for dinner and had the chance to hear from Mark about his life, his battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma and his courage and determination to not only defeat cancer but to make it into the NFL and win the Super Bowl as a member of the NY Giants.  Guests also had the opportunity to ask Mark questions and he went above and beyond in taking the time to answer questions, sign autographs, and take photographs.  Mark also spent some time prior to the dinner with some of the campers who have served as Honorary Coaches with the St. John Fisher College Cardinals and the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for the Annual Courage Bowl.  He talked to them one-on-one about his battle with cancer, playing football in college, playing in the NFL and going to the Super Bowl.  I am sure that the experience made some great memories that these campers will carry with them for a long time.  Save the date… the Eighth Annual Camp Good Days’ COURAGE BOWL will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2012.  We are bringing the COURAGE BOWL back to Growney Stadium on the campus of St. John Fisher College, where the Cardinals will take on the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for one more game and this is one you won’t want to miss!  Following this year’s COURAGE BOWL, the Cardinals will face a new opponent in future COURAGE BOWL games.

Our Junior Good Days program also took place from Tuesday, June 26, 2012 through Friday, June 29, 2012, both in the Rochester and Syracuse areas.  This program is for those children, ages 4-7 that are still too young to attend residential camp.  The highlight of the program came on Friday, June 29, 2012 when all of the Junior Good Days’ campers and volunteers from Rochester and Syracuse spent the day at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility on Keuka Lake, and got to have a little taste of what “big” camp is all about.

This past Thursday through Saturday, we held the Women’s Wellness I Program.  It was a great program and a great group of women, many of them new to Camp Good Days.  They had the opportunity to be pampered and take the time to relax and rejuvenate, with some of the only people in the world who can truly understand what they are going through – other women with cancer.  The participants were able to take advantage of a variety of activities during the program including: massages, manicures, creating their own her garden, making jewelry, water yoga, boat rides, fishing, clay projects, and more.  On Friday evening, my good friend and Camp Good Days’ volunteer, Dolly Malik, provided an instructional session on mindfulness and relaxation techniques.  The program concluded with the very special Closing Ceremony, held in the beautiful Outdoor Chapel Area.  Sister Fran Quinn conducted the Closing Ceremony, as she always does, but my heart went out to her as she no longer has Father David Ambuske – her partner in these special Camp Good Days’ services.  We all miss Father Dave very much but I know that his spirit and memory will live on through the children and families at Camp Good Days.

On Saturday night, Wendy and I, along with her Dad, went to the Rochester Rhinos game and it was great to see them win for the second time in a week.  Hopefully they are back on a winning streak now!  If you are at a Rochester Rhinos game, you can visit us inside Gate D at the Quarters for Cancer table, or if you would like to help out with Quarters for Cancer, email Laura at losborn@campgooddays.org.  On Sunday, we went to see Wendy’s Grandma and celebrate her 95^th Birthday – what a milestone!

Our first full week of summer residential programs for children started this Monday.  We have a full program for Childhood USA I, which is for children ages 8-12 who have a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell anemia within the past three years, and/or is actively undergoing treatment.  Next week, we will welcome a second full group of campers for Childhood USA II, which is similar to this week’s program, but for children ages 13-17.  In the coming weeks we will welcome campers for the Doing A World Of Good Program and we are so excited that some of our friends from countries around the world, such as Mexico, the Bahamas, Ethiopia, Germany, Turks & Caicos, and Dominican Republic will be able to join us again this year and we look forward to meeting new campers and chaperones from the Czech Republic!  Special thanks to Dr. Lubos Barta, who served as a Judge for the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and has been instrumental in helping to make it possible for some children dealing with cancer from the Czech Republic to be able to attend the Doing A World Of Good Program this summer.

We also have a number of special fundraising events coming up, all of which help us to continue providing our programs and services free of charge for the participants.  More than 200 people are registered to take part in the Just Clowning Around 5K, which is taking place this Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Mendon.  Be sure to follow the event on facebook and twitter, as the participants will each receive a clown wig to wear during the event and the photos are sure to be great!  In the coming weeks and months we will also be hosting a Bocce Bash, with Valenti Sports and PushYourself.com on Saturday, August 4, 2012; the Corey Coffey Golf Classic on Monday, August 20, 2012; the Friends of Ramon Santiago will host their golf tournament on Monday, August 27, 2012, from which proceeds benefit the Arts & Crafts area at Camp Good Days; and we will be bringing back the Tour de Teddi Bike Ride on Saturday, September 29, 2012.      For more information about any of our upcoming events, to learn how you can get involved as a participant, sponsor, supporter, or volunteer, check out our website, www.campgooddays.org and become our fan on facebook, www.facebook.com/CampGoodDays79. 

On the CANCER MISSION 2020 front, we are making progress in the plan for addressing cancer in Monroe County, where cancer is now the leading cause of death.  We will be meeting with the committee to review that plan on Monday, July 16, 2012 and we look forward to sharing the final plan with all of you very soon!  Don’t forget to check out www.cancermission2020.com, sign the petition, and share the site with your contacts.  It is a simple task that will only take a few moments of your time, but in the end, will make a world of difference!

A Quick Update...

Things have been happening so quickly here at Camp Good Days that I have not had as much of a chance to stay on top of my blog as I would like, but I did want to take a few minutes to fill you all in on some of the things going on.

We hosted what is always one of my favorite programs, the Young Adult Program, the weekend of June 15-17, 2012.  We had a great group of young adults who are dealing with cancer, and this year we expanded the program so that they could bring along a significant other or close friend.  Fortunately, it is very rare for someone between the ages of 18-39 to be initially diagnosed with cancer.  However, these young people often fall through the cracks in regards to programs and services available to them.  They are too old to fit in with the children’s programs, but yet too young to fit in with the older adults.  These young people face challenges and issues about their futures – education and careers – health insurance -  relationships – just like all young adults, however these young people have the cloud of cancer to deal with as well.  Through the Young Adult Program, these young men and women can meet and connect with others who are going through similar situations and who are within their own age range.  Those that attended the program had a fantastic time and I consider it a true blessing that I had the opportunity to spend some time with them.

Last week started with a trip to Buffalo for the Parent Information Meeting, for those who have children that will be attending our residential camping programs this summer.  It was ironic as we pulled into the parking lot at St. Philip’s Church to see so many people lined up to get into the meeting.  All I could think about was 33 years ago we had a press conference at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, to announce that we were starting Camp Good Days and would be offering residential camping experiences for children dealing with cancer.  The only people in attendance at that press conference were the Public Relations Assistant from Roswell, my daughter Teddi and I, and my friend Tom Gosdeck who is originally from Buffalo and made the trip with us, and Tom’s parents.  Boy…how things have changed!

During the Parent Information Meeting we shared some of the plans and changes for this summer.  When we were driving back to Rochester, I was thinking about how much has changed over these past 33 years.  When I started Camp Good Days, Jimmy Carter was President and no one talked about cancer.  Cancer was one of the most feared words in the English language and there were no programs or services available for children or families dealing with cancer.  Today, one of the things that I am most proud of is that no one dealing with the diagnosis of cancer, whether it be themselves or someone in their family, has to face that battle alone, unless they choose to do so. 

A few things manage to stay constant over the years though.  Our goal, here at Camp Good Days has stayed the same over these 33 years.  We strive to give those children, who through no fault of their own have been dealt a difficult hand in life, a wonderful experience and a chance to get back some of the childhood that has been robbed from them.  And we provide them the opportunity to create some good days and special times with the only others in the world who can truly understand what they are going through – other children going through the same thing.

Thanks to so many generous people and the success of our special fundraising events, we have also been able to keep the promise I made 33 years ago that no family would ever be faced with the decision between paying their bills on time and sending their loved one to Camp Good Days.  All of our programs are provided free of charge for the participants so as not to place any additional financial burden on those families served.  Today, so many families have both Mom and Dad working, but with the diagnosis of cancer, if the family is fortunate to have both Mom and Dad, one of them, and the majority of the time it will be Mom, has to cut back on their work hours to become the primary caregiver.  However, the mortgage or rent payments stay the same, the car payments stay the same, and the rest of the bills stay the same.  Oftentimes, families will have to dip into their savings or even be forced to claim bankruptcy. I never wanted Camp Good Days to be a source of anxiety for families who are already facing so many challenges and I am so pleased that here we are, having served 43,000 campers from 22 states and 27 foreign countries, and we have been able to keep that promise.

In preparation for what is shaping up to be another full summer with hundreds of campers experiencing the magic and spirit of Camp Good Days, we are in the midst of our Summer Staff Training Program.  I had the chance to spend last Tuesday at Camp and speak to the summer staff members.  I am so impressed with their energy and excitement about making this summer one of the best yet! 

Last Friday afternoon, we welcomed Joe Szafranski, his bother-in-law, Mike, and Joe’s daughter, Jasmine, as they made a stop for lunch at the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters in Mendon, as part of their Ride4Cancer2020.  Joe departed on the Second Annual Ride4Cancer2020 from Buffalo on Saturday, June 16, 2012 and traveled from Buffalo to Albany and back.  Joe was riding to honor and remember his nephew, Jimmy, and to generate awareness and funds to support Camp Good Days and CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE.  Joe, a Buffalo Police Officer and New York State National Guard Staff Sergeant, lost his 16 year old nephew to cancer in January 2011 and he is turning some of his pain and anger into action.  Last year Joe rode across the state to bring awareness to the importance of cancer research through Cancer Mission 2020 and raised $2,606 for Camp Good Days. Countless people also signed the Cancer Mission 2020 petition along the way.  It was great to see Joe, Mike, and Jasmine and we are all so grateful and appreciative of their continued support for the children and families at Camp Good Days and their efforts on behalf of CANCER MISSION 2020.  More information can be found at the Ride4Cancer2020 website, http://www.ride4cancer2020.com/, on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/Ride4Cancer, and on Twitter https://twitter.com/Ride4Cancer2020.

Saturday morning, Wendy and I were up early as my granddaughter, Delaney, graduated from Gananda Central Schools.  It was a very nice ceremony and Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle did a great job as the commencement speaker.  On Saturday evening, we headed to Buffalo for the Annual Creative Black Tie Gala at the Buffalo Hyatt.  This year’s theme was CAMP OLYMPUS and once again this year, Lisa Donato from our Buffalo Office and her staff and amazing group of volunteers did an outstanding job. I would like to extend our thanks to Rob Lederman, for serving as Master of Ceremonies again this year, and to all those who attended and generously supported the event.  I would also like to congratulate Angelo Veanes, who is an outstanding volunteer and Camp Good Days’ Board Member and was honored as the recipient of the Spirit of Teddi Humanitarian Award.  It was a fun evening and the guests were truly remarkable in their support and generosity, helping us to continue being able to provide programs and services for all those families across Western New York who need them.

This is another busy week.  Today, I had breakfast with my good friend, Charlie Craddock and later I will be going to Blue Heron Hills Golf Course for the Rich Funke, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, from which a portion of the proceeds benefit the children and families at Camp Good Days.  Tomorrow we begin our Junior Good Days’ Program, both in the Rochester area and the Syracuse area.  This special day-camp program is for our youngest campers, ages 4-7, who are still too little to attend residential camp.  I know that our staff and volunteers, here in Rochester, and the staff and volunteers in Syracuse have a fun-filled four days planned for the campers.

I am really looking forward to this Wednesday evening, when Camp Good Days will host, “Life, Cancer, and the NFL…An Evening with NY Giants’ Mark Herzlich”.  Mark has a remarkable story that exemplifies courage and determination.  An All-American Linebacker at Boston College, Mark was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and went on to return to football, securing a place as a member of the New York Giants.

“Two years ago, I was told I might never walk again,’ Mark typed to his loyal followers on Twitter. “Just walked off the plane in Indy to play in the Super Bowl. Take that cancer!” One week later, Mark Herzlich found himself celebrating at midfield with his teammates as part of the 2011 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

This special evening will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear at length from Mark, about his football career thus far and playing both in college and as part of a Super Bowl winning team, but also about his courageous battle with cancer.  The evening will be casual and fun, with stadium-style foods and for me personally, it will be a very special way to commemorate what would have been my daughter Teddi’s birthday.”

A small number of tickets are still available for this amazing event and can be purchased by calling the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters, 585-624-5555, or online at www.campgooddays.org.

It can be tough what we deal with here at Camp Good Days, and unfortunately this has hit very close to home these past few weeks.  So we ask that you please keep James, and all those battling this terrible disease, in your thoughts and prayers.

Until next time…wishing all of you a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Kick Off To Summer!

It is hard to believe that May 2012 has come and gone!  Looking back, it was a very special month, which started on May 1, 2012 when I was honored to receive the Town of Pittsford’s Citizen of the Year Award.  We also held our first and very successful Project T.I.P.S. event of the 2012 season, on Friday, May 18, 2012 in Jones Park.  I was then honored to be presented with the Major Donald Holleder Award at the Press Radio Club’s Day of Champions Dinner on May 23, 2012, and that same evening, I was thrilled that our County Executive, Maggie Brooks, included CANCER MISSION 2020 in her State of the County Address. 

While all of these exciting things were happening for me, and for Camp Good Days, we have now come into June and the month started off with one of our own having to undergo surgery for cancer.  While we continue to pray for all those dealing with this terrible disease, we also are moving forward with what is our busiest time of the year.  Last Saturday we held the Volunteer Training Session at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility, for all new volunteers.  That was followed by the training session for the Counselors in Training on Saturday and Sunday.  I was pleased to have had the opportunity to share some words with the new volunteers and to meet some of them personally. 

We were fortunate to have two old friends join us for the training.  Patrick Crough, who is retired from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, where he was a Major Crimes Investigator, spoke to all of the volunteers about the serious issues of child abuse and sexual abuse.  Following his retirement from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Patrick wrote The Serpents Among Us: How to Protect Your Children From Sexual Predators.  A Police Investigator’s Perspective.  Patrick had everyone’s attention and we were very fortunate to have him share his many years of experience and knowledge with our volunteers.  I have known Patrick for many years, as he was the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department representative for the Project Exile Advisory Board, when that program was in its infancy.  Patrick is a true law-enforcement professional and both he and his wife, Suzanne, have become dear friends to Camp Good Days. 

Another good friend, Scott Vallow, also made the trip to the Recreational Facility, along with his two sons.  Scott spent many years as the Goalkeeper for the Rochester Rhinos, and is now an Assistant Coach with the team.  Scott shared his vision about teamwork and the importance of giving back to those less fortunate.  Scott represents everything that is good in sports and I so much appreciated him making the trip, as he did so knowing that he had to get back to Rochester and to Sahlen’s Stadium by 5:00 PM, for the Rochester Rhinos’ game against the Richmond Kickers.  Scott has been so generous to the children and families at Camp Good Days.  He has taken the time to visit during the Doing A World Of Good Program each summer, with the Rochester Rhinos, and donates proceeds from his various soccer camps and trainings, done through his Train Like A Champion Program, and proceeds from the annual Soccer in the Sand Tournament held in August.

As a special highlight for everyone at Volunteer Training, the Conesus Lake Riders and the participants in the Annual Ridin’ for a Reason Motorcycle Ride stopped at Camp on Saturday afternoon, as they were making their way from Arkport, New York to Dansville, New York.  More than 120 motorcycles came through and the riders had a chance to take a break and visit with the volunteers and staff.  Special thanks to the Conesus Lake Riders for their continued support and generosity and to all those who participated in this annual event, from which all proceeds benefit the children and families we serve. 

This past Monday, some of us headed to Buffalo to attend the Return Volunteer Training session and it was great to see so many people excited about coming back to volunteer at Camp Good Days this summer.

On Tuesday, we held our 29^th Annual Tournament of Love at Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford.  By all accounts we had a successful event, despite some challenges along the way!  We were blessed with a beautiful day with weather perfect for golfing; the course was in great shape; the staff at Monroe Golf Club went above and beyond in creating a hospitable and pleasant venue for all the participants; and I have only heard positive comments about the event, which is a reflection of the hard work of our Special Events Coordinator, Nicole.  It was so nice to see so many people enjoying the day, all in support of the children and families we serve, and we were honored that our County Executive, Maggie Brooks, and our County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley both took the time out of their hectic schedules to be a part of the event.  Special thanks go out to our event Chairpersons, Paul & Kirsten Estabrooks and the entire committee for all of their hard work and dedication; as well as to Rich Funke, Anchor at NEWS10NBC for serving as our Master of Ceremonies and Sister Francella Quinn for providing the Invocation at dinner, and to all of our sponsors, donors, supporters, volunteers, and participants.

One of the challenges we faced with the Tournament of Love this year was that Mark Herzlich, Linebacker with the Super Bowl Champion NY Giants, was originally scheduled to appear as the Special Guest for the event.  Unfortunately, Head Coach Coughlin called a mandatory practice for this week and as a player under contract, Mark has no choice but to participate in these mandatory practices.  However, Mark wanted to honor his commitment to Camp Good Days and has agreed to come to Rochester for a special evening on Wednesday, June 27, 2012.  “Life, Cancer, and the NFL…An Evening With NY Giants’ Mark Herzlich”   will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Rochester Plaza Hotel, 70 State Street, Downtown Rochester. 

Mark’s story is one that exemplifies courage and determination.  An All-American Linebacker at Boston College, Mark was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and went on to return to football, securing a place as a member of the New York Giants.

“Two years ago, I was told I might never walk again,’ Mark typed to his loyal followers on Twitter. “Just walked off the plane in Indy to play in the Super Bowl. Take that cancer!” One week later, Mark Herzlich found himself celebrating at midfield with his teammates as part of the 2011 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

As oftentimes has occurred over the years, you come to realize that there is a reason for the way things happen.  Although we were disappointed that Mark was unable to make it to Rochester for our Tournament of Love, we are thrilled that he is willing to honor his commitment to the children and families at Camp Good Days.  This special evening will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear at length from Mark, about his football career thus far and playing both in college and as part of a Super Bowl winning team, but also about his courageous battle with cancer.  The evening will be casual and fun, with stadium-style foods and for me personally, it will be a very special way to commemorate what would have been my daughter Teddi’s birthday.

Tickets for “Life, Cancer, and the NFL…An Evening With NY Giants’ Mark Herzlich” are a perfect and unique Father’s Day Gift or Graduation Gift!  What better way to show you care than to send your loved one to this one-of-a-kind evening, and at the same time know that you are helping the children and families at Camp Good Days!  Tickets to attend are $60.00 per person are available by contacting Camp Good Days at 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135 or may be purchased online at www.campgooddays.org.

Also on Tuesday, we kicked off the Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle.  Once again, through the generous support of Jay and Jay Jay Vanderstyne, Vanderstyne Toyota, and Toyota Motors, we have been given this amazing opportunity and 100% of every dollar raised through the sale of these raffle tickets will benefit the children and families at Camp Good Days.  The drawing will take place on New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31, 2012 and the prize is a 2012 Toyota Corolla-S Model, featuring sunroof, cruise control, Bluetooth, power windows, and power locks.  The MSRP of the vehicle is $20,225.00.  The 2012 Toyota Corolla offers the ideal blend of comfort, value and safety.  The Toyota Corolla has remarkable performance and fuel efficiency, plus an impressive list of safety features. 

Tickets for the Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle are $25.00 each and may be purchased by contacting Camp Good Days at 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135 or online at www.campgooddays.org.  Tickets may be purchased using cash, check, or credit card.  The prize winner must be at least 18 years of age.

This week will come to a close with a meeting on Friday morning of the Project T.I.P.S. Committee, with Rochester Police Chief, James Sheppard and many of our law enforcement and community partners, where we will be discussing plans for the events scheduled for July and August.  I will then be heading out to Camp, as we have a full weekend ahead.

On Sunday, June 10, 2012 we will officially kick off the 2012 season.  We will be having a very special Day of Dedications and I am so pleased that as part of the ceremonies on Sunday, we will cut the ribbon and dedicate the newest building, the Corey Cabin, in loving memory of our dear friend and supporter, Lyle Corey, who passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 2010.  This new building was constructed with much donated labor and materials and was done so under the guidance, management and leadership of LeChase Construction, where Lyle worked for many years.  The Corey Cabin is a beautiful new building and was much needed to help us accommodate the space we lost when we tore down the old motel building last spring.  I am so happy that some of Lyle’s family and friends and some of those who helped to make this building a reality, will be able to join us on Sunday.

We will also have our Ring of Honor Induction Ceremony on Sunday, during which we will unveil the bricks in the Ring of Honor area, for those who were recognized as 2011 Ring of Honor Inductees at the Night of Gratitude held in March.  Our newest class of inductees includes: Mary Pat Allen; Joe Cascio; Sarah Clapper; Gary Amendola and the Gary Amendola Fun Fund at Woods, Oviatt; Ron Dougherty; Will & Muriel Herzog; the New York State Police; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department; the Rochester Police Department; Stacey & Chris Ruisi; Amy Schmidt; Cameron Tebbi, MD; St. Philip’s Church; Sahlen’s Packing Company; and the Vinette Family. 

Also on the agenda for Sunday, we will be dedicating the Basketball Court in honor of our dear friend, John “The Gov” Gilmore, who has been a part of the Camp Good Days’ family for many, many years and was instrumental in the success of the Tournament of Love for many years.  We will be dedicating a special bench, in memory of Ramon Santiago, who was an internationally recognized artist and a true friend to the children and families at Camp Good Days.  Ramon lost his own battle with cancer more than 10 years ago.

We will also be having a special service and dedicating the Outdoor Chapel in memory of Father David Ambuske.  From 1982 through last summer, Father Ambuske would come down to Camp on the first evening of each program session to officiate over the optional Prayer Service, which has become a tradition and a part of the customs at Camp Good Days.  Unfortunately, Father Ambsuke lost his battle to heart disease last year, shortly before the holiday season.

Last but certainly not least, Wendy and I will be celebrating our 17^th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday and like most years, we will be spending it together doing something with Camp Good Days.  It is also Wendy’s Dad’s birthday on Sunday, so we wish him a very happy one and many more!

As you can tell, Sunday promises to be a very busy day for all of us at Camp Good Days as we officially begin our 33^rd summer of providing residential camping programs for children and families whose lives have been touched by cancer.  But it will be a day to remember and to honor some of the very special people that have been a part of the Camp Good Days’ family over the years.

Through this adventure that has been Camp Good Days I have had the opportunity to meet so many special people – like Father David Ambuske, Lyle Corey, John Gilmore, Ramon Santiago and many, many more.

Another special person that has been a part of our family is moving…Judy Immeosoete is moving across the country to be closer to her family.  Judy, better known as Mother Nature at Camp Good Days, has been volunteering for many years both at the programs for children dealing with cancer and for the Women’s Oncology Programs.  Last Friday, Judy stopped by Camp, where some of her friends were getting ready for the Volunteer Training.  They all had the chance to spend some time together and to say goodbye.  Judy read them all a poem she had written about Camp Good Days, and everyone was so touched by her words.  Wendy shared that poem with me, and I leave you all, for now, by sharing it with you…

There was a child, a small little girl

who was ill

then lost her chance for a life so full

of laughter and joy and parties galore

but gave to us the chance to be

friends of the lasting kind

who support each other regardless of time.

Teddi brought us together, I didn’t know her, and most of us can say the same,

we are friends because we heard her name.

We laugh, we cry, we come back for more,

We have touched each other in ways so mysterious

there were times when we laughed ourselves delirious

and cried…but never asked why,

because we knew.

This child called Teddi gave to us a friendship so dear

my life changed the day I came here

my stuff in tow

and because of you my friends my life did grow.

I will have memories of the times we spent together

of the love I have for each of you

because of a child, a little girl, I never knew.

I have been blessed with friendship by all of you.

Camp Good Days' Update

As I have said many times, there is no real quiet time here at Camp Good Days.  Things have been crazy since my last post, but I thought I should take a few minutes and catch everyone up.

I can’t thank enough all those who came to the Pittsford Town Board Meeting on May 1, 2012 as I was presented with the 2011 Citizen of the Year Award.  It was a complete surprise when I received the call from Pittsford Town Supervisor, Bill Carpenter, to let me know that I had been selected for this very special honor and to hear that my childhood friend, Bob Michaels, had nominated me.  I headed to the Pittsford Library that evening, expecting a short presentation and a couple of close friends to be there.  I was truly overwhelmed by the number of people who took the time out of their evening, for a presentation that was not part of an event or dinner, to come and show their support.  It meant so much to me and the chance to see so many friends, some of whom I have not seen in many years, was something I won’t soon forget.  My gratitude and thanks go to Supervisor Bill Carpenter, the Pittsford Town Board, and all those who attended that evening. 

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, Camp Good Days hosted our 12^th Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Auction Dinner at the Rochester Plaza Hotel.  The event was a sellout again this year, and event Chairman, Peter Parts, along with Ron Dougherty, David Male, Jayne Van Zile, Val Migliore, and the entire organizing committee did another outstanding job.  Matthew Chung, who again served as our Auctioneer and my good friend, Rich Funke, who served as our Master of Ceremonies, both did their part in making the evening special for all the attendees.  The people at the Rochester Plaza could not have been more accommodating.  Special thanks go out to Scott Greene, Head Football Coach at the University of Rochester and his players who came to our office in Mendon that Friday to help us move all of the wine to the Rochester Plaza; Athletic Director, Anthony Bianchi and all of the student athletes from the Aquinas Institute of Rochester who helped to set everything up on Saturday morning and afternoon; and to the Victor Football players and Booster Club, who spent Saturday evening helping to get all of the wine and auction items to the winning bidders.  An event of this magnitude would not be possible without all of their help and support!  The highlight of the evening came when Katie Bess, who was a camper here at Camp Good Days and now serves as a volunteer, spoke about her battle with cancer and what being a part of the Camp Good Days’ family has meant to her and the impact we have had on her life.  Following Katie’s remarks, more than 95 people stood up to be counted in the Camper Call.  It was unbelievable to see person after person after person stand up and pledge their support.  We do not yet have all of the final figures, but I am confident that this event was another resounding success and that we have reached our goals.

Last Wednesday afternoon, we had the second of three meetings for the committee that has been assembled by Dr. Byron Kennedy, Deputy Director of the Monroe County Health Department and I, in regards to the plan we are developing to address cancer in Monroe County, where cancer is the leading cause of death.  We had another great meeting and it is truly exciting to have some great people at the table who are willing to lend their ideas, support and hard work to put this plan into place.  We will be presenting the plan to County Executive, Maggie Brooks this summer and once it is final, we will make that plan available on our CANCER MISSION 2020 website, http://www.cancermission2020.com/.  If you have not yet checked out the website or have not checked back recently, please do so.  On the site not only can you sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition, lending your support to our efforts, but you can see the CANCER MISSION 2020 Legislation, HR 5283, which has been introduced into Congress by Congressman Tom Reed.  And again, I ask you to share this site and the petition with your contacts so that we can continue our progress forward in putting an end to cancer by the end of the decade!

On Friday and Saturday, May 11-12, 2012, we officially kicked off our 33^rd summer at Camp Good Days.  We hosted a group of young people from the Teen Empowerment and Pathways to Peace programs for a special overnight.  We had some beautiful weather and I think the participants had a good two days, as I had the chance to speak to group and also to listen in on some of the workshops they attended.  Overall it was a good weekend and the Recreational Facility looks great! 

This past Friday, May 18, 2012, we held the first Project T.I.P.S. event for the 2012 season.  By all accounts this was a great kick off for the season.  Project T.I.P.S. stands for Trust, Information, Programs & Services, and includes community agencies and law enforcement personnel working in selected neighborhoods to rebuild trust amongst residents and share information.  From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, groups including one Police Officer, one Fire Fighter, and two volunteers, visit residents within the neighborhood to create conversations about quality of life issues, as well as to obtain information about the crime and violence that has plagued the neighborhood, in an anonymous format for residents.  The groups also provide residents with information and contacts they can use regarding services that range from health care issues (cancer, diabetes, heart disease) to reporting information for things such as crime, vandalism, and fire.  Project T.I.P.S. continues from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with a community cookout and get together where residents can come and obtain more information from service providers and law enforcement agencies, as well as have some food and beverages, and have the opportunity to visit with their neighbors that they know and meet some neighbors they may not know.  Since its inception in the summer of 2008, Project T.I.P.S. has quickly evolved into a community-wide effort with support and participation from our Partners Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) Initiative and Project Exile Advisory Board, as well as the Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Department, City of Rochester Recreation Department, New York State Police, New York State Parole, Pathways to Peace, Monroe County Probation, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Monroe County Department of Human Services, Humane Society at Lollypop Farm, Rise Up Rochester, and numerous other law enforcement and community agencies.

Jones Park was an ideal location, we had a great turnout of community residents and most importantly, the children from the area had the chance to get something to eat, ride the horses, see the different demos and displays, and have a safe and fun afternoon.  I think I speak on behalf of all the participating agencies when I say we are looking forward to the upcoming Project T.I.P.S. events planned for this summer. 

On Friday evening, Wendy and I headed to Sahlen’s Stadium to take her Dad to the Rochester Rhinos’ game, during which they tied the Dayton Dutch Lions.  We are so thankful to have been given the opportunity, again this season, to have the Camp Good Days’ Quarters for Cancer promotion at each of the soccer games held at Sahlen’s Stadium.  Quarters for Cancer includes staff and volunteers collecting donations as attendees come into the stadium and we have an informational table set up just inside Gate D.  We are still looking for volunteers to help at the games and if you are interested, please contact Laura Osborn at 585-624-5555 or losborn@campgooddays.org and she will be happy to send you the game schedule and get you signed up!

On Saturday morning, Wendy and I were up bright and early and headed to Camp, as we also had our first session of the Women’s Oncology Program, the Women’s Arts & Crafts Program, taking place this past Friday – Sunday.  It was so nice that all of the women who registered for the program were actually able to attend.  I had the chance to observe the various activities and speak with some of the participants who were all having a good time.  I also had the chance to meet with some visitors from the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa, who flew up to New York to visit Camp Good Days.  I met these folks last month during the Annual Florida Fun Fest and we are all excited to be working together on plans to have some of the children they serve attend our programs here at Camp Good Days and they have also lent their support and are assisting us in the efforts for CANCER MISSION 2020. 

On Sunday I took care of some personal things at home and come Monday morning, Wendy and I were back on the road to Camp.  We met with some visitors from the Harlem Boys & Girls Club and discussed some ways in which we might be able to collaborate, by having some of their participants who would qualify, attend some of our camping programs, as well as arranging for a special trip for some of our campers to visit the New York City area.  We also went with them to view some land they have had donated, located outside of Bath, New York and gave them some ideas and suggestions as to how they best might develop that land. 

We made it back to Rochester in time to head to Frontier Field for the Rochester Red Wings game.  It was the Rochester / Monroe County Youth Board’s Bullying Prevention Night at the game.  Wendy is the President of the Board for the Rochester / Monroe County Youth Board and she had to attend and I wanted to lend my support. 

This morning I had breakfast with an old friend and longtime Camp Good Days’ supporter, Jim Capellupo.  I spent a couple hours in the office and then went to NEWS10NBC to tape an interview about CANCER MISSION 2020 with Ray Levato for the Rochester In Focus show.  Later this afternoon we met with Jay and Jay Jay Vanderstyne from Vanderstyne Toyota to finalize details and logistics for the 2012 Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle.  We are beyond grateful that because of the generosity of the Vanderstynes and Toyota Motors we will be able to conduct a raffle again this year.  Tickets will be available very soon so check out our website, www.campgooddays.org for more details! 

This evening we have a Training Session for returning volunteers in the Rochester area and we are looking forward to seeing everyone and sharing our plans and goals for the summer camping programs.  There is also an Open Cup series game for the Rochester Rhinos so the Quarters for Cancer table will be set up at Sahlen’s Stadium. 

Tomorrow morning we have our weekly Staff Meeting and a meeting of our Tournament of Love Committee and then I personally am looking forward to heading to the Rochester Riverside Convention Center for the Rochester Press Radio Club’s Day of Champions Dinner, where I will be receiving the Major Donald Holleder Award.  I say I am receiving this award, but truly I am accepting it on behalf of the thousands of people who have been involved with Camp Good Days, supported our many efforts, and helped to keep Teddi’s memory and legacy alive, because it is all of them who have helped to make all that we have accomplished possible – as I say often – I am just the pretty face! 

As you can see, it’s very busy.  I am exhausted already and it’s only Tuesday!  Wishing all of you a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!