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The National Alopecia Association and the Mothers' Union once again were inviting families with children with alopecia and the ones fighting cancer to spend a fun week together. Many young campers have been waiting the entire year for those few days when they can feel like any other children. Not just the children, but their moms, dads, siblings and other family members come here, far away from all the stereotypes, labels and insecurities.
Camp, organized by the National Alopecia Association aims to get children who lost their hair because of different reasons together.
Alopecia is an autoimune disorder, but fortunately, is painless, doesn't limit person's abilities and is not life threatening. Children fighting oncological diseases loose their hair during the treatment. Hair grows back after the cancer treatments, while children with alopecia might loose it for the rest of their lives. However, all the children run into similar issues after the diagnosis: fear, despair, emotional pain, self rejection. Knowing that you are not alone, that you can be yourself among the others without any hats or wigs, helps to gain confidence and strength upon returning to their daily lives.
Campers bring their ideas and the supplies needed to keep everyone included and occupied. Every day was filled with the activities not just for the children, but for the adults as well. Children relax because they know no one is observing and judging them while swimming in the pond, playing sports or just at the dinner table. Such experience is crucial to their self-worth and confidence, helping them to understand that we all are different and special indeed. At the mean time, it is really important for the adults to share the experiences raising children with alopecia or going through the cancer treatments and discussing its effects on the entire family. They are the ones that must be their children’s stable foundation and learn how to advocate for them in different situations.
The Kazickas Family Foundation has been supporting the Mothers' Union that takes care of children fighting cancer, as well as the National Alopecia Association helping people affected by Alopecia for the last few years.
The "Mothers' Union” team was sharing the excitement and gratitude:
“Well rested, happy and recharged children said goodbye to the camp. Till next summer – everyone said knowing they’d be back for sure. Children were busy creating things, playing sports, laughing a lot, discovering new things about themselves and each other. Fishing was a big hit. Thanks to Ugnius’ dad and his homemade fishing poles all the fishermen had quite a success, but we want to assure that all the fish were safely returned back to the pond. Creative projects were keeping children busy for hours, way past the scheduled time. Hot tub, swimming in the pond and spending time together around the camp fire were perfect bonding opportunities. Thank you all for a wonderful time, for spending time together and for making great memories. We thank the National Alopecia Association and the Kazickas Family Foundation for a gift of joy for children and their families”.
Few moms of the happy campers joined in as well:
Jurgita: "It was truly amazing. I ask my children: What did you like best? – Everything. What exactly? – I don’t know, but it so much fun there!!!”
Vaida: "Our camp is "out of space" where children love spending time with their parents and such time is priceless... Family is a virtue! You’d think camp is for children, but actually, it is for the entire family. Let’s stay one big family!”
Photos: Courtesy of "Nacionalinė Alopecijos Asociacija" and "Mamų Unija"
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