News
 |
Summer camp is a bunch of children laughing and giggling, cartwheels while running through the fields and never ending smiles on their faces. That was exact atmosphere at the camp where for the first time children who lost their hair due to Alopecia and those who lost it fighting cancer were invited to spend time together. That's the camp where children are simply children - without any stereotypes, insecurities or labels.
One mom came up with an idea of such camp after reading other mom's post "While fighting cancer, my little girl lost her hair and at the same time - all of her friends. 'Be my friend', asks seven year old girl!"
Should hair determine the friendship? There is only one correct answer - NO. However, unfortunatelly, there are groups of people and children who run into a different answer on a daily basis.
Charitable foundation "Mothers' Union" (Mamų unija) takes care of every Lithuanian child touched by the cancer and has been working with the Kazickas Family foundation for few years already. They share few happy, carefree moments spent with a wonderful group of friends:
"It is such a joy to see our children in a different evironment outside the hospital, enjoying their childhood and what summer has to offer.
Our little Viktorija and her mom spent a week together with the National Alopecia Association families at the Guronys camp. Children affected by oncological diseases and the ones with Alopecia condition have something in common - they both loose their hair. Alopecia is an autoimune disorder, but fortunately, is painless, doesn't limit person's abilities and is not life threatening. Hair grows back after the cancer treatments, but Alopecia children might loose it for the rest of their lives. 'We all have things in common, we can be friends, because we run into similar issues after the diagnosis: fear, despair, emotional pain, self rejection', shares Vaida who lost hair due to Alopecia
We're extremely grateful to the National Alopecia Association for inviting our children, for the beginning of a beautiful friendship and for an extraordinary weekend."
Viktorija's mom was sharing her gratitude:
"We just finished our long and difficult fight. last year we couldn't enjoy our summer because of a dark cloud of cancer... Mothers' Union suggested to go to the camp. We wanted to relax, to pick up where we left before last summer and meet new friends, of course. We had an amazing time. Camp friends from the NAA welcomed us with open arms. Every day was filled with fun activities. We made dream catchers, souvenirs and decoupage art. We searched for treasure and participated at the sports competitions. We went on a field trip to the Rumsiskes museum. During the educational program we made potato latkes. In the evenings we enjoyed ourselves in the old fashioned wooden hot tub and sauna. Thank you all for a wonderful vacation."
The Kazickas Family foundation proudly supports carefree childhood by contributing to such camp organized by National Alopecia Association.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photos: Courtesy of Egle Melinauskiene