We were given the opportunity as a family to participate with EK's work in a overnight service project at Camp Sunrise. Camp Sunrise (sponsored by the American Cancer Society) is a camp in Arizona for children from the ages of 8 to 18 that have cancer. It is located just northeast of Payson at the R-C Scout Ranch. The camp programs serve thousands of children with cancer with a staff of more than 100 adults. The children can experience a "normal" summer camp experience, but in a setting that caters to their special medical needs.
Bank of America volunteered to put together a team of 20 volunteers that would drive up to Payson and lay gravel for a 200+ square foot path that was wheelchair accessible and also re-staining the medical lodge. We drove up to the camp on Friday, June 25th where we slept in one of the cabins. The kids were so excited to be able to sleep in a real cabin in bunk beds. They also couldn't wait to use their new shovels and their new work gloves (which were $1 small adult garden gloves, but they didn't care). The next morning we woke early, had a nice breakfast that was provided by Lori, the very sweet lady from BofA, that organized this whole thing, and then we began our 8 hours of shoveling, raking, smoothing, and digging. The project scope ended up becoming a 400+ square foot path plus common area and we had laid all 500 square feet of gravel when were all done. The kids were amazing and had a great time helping out. It was a great opportunity to show our kids what "real" hard work was about and then be able to demonstrate to them at such a young age what service feels like. We all had a great time even though we were doing quite grueling labor. The feeling it gave us when we were able to see the before and after was amazing and knowing that we were helping kids with cancer made it that much greater of an experience.
BEFORE
AFTER
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