Back in March I had the pleasure of receiving a message on Etsy from a Tyra Yam with Camp Kesem at Marquette University. She is a student leader that helps organize things for Camp Kesem. Now Camp Kesem is a nationwide community supporting children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Each summer camp is completely organized, planned, and fundraised for by college students – like me – at university chapters across the country.
When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family is affected. For children, the carefree joys and adventure of childhood are replaced with new responsibilities, anger, guilt and the fear of losing (or loss of) a parent. There are currently no other camps and few services available to these children in the Milwaukee area. Camp Kesem Marquette University will be held in June 26th to June 30th at JCC Rainbow Day Camp in Fredonia, Wisconsin and will open its arms to 50 Milwaukee area campers. Camp Kesem is open to all children aged 6-16 affected by a parent’s cancer. The campers who attend have the unique opportunity to develop friendships with peers facing similar challenges, build confidence and gain a support network of over 20 caring, well-trained volunteer counselors…a gift that lasts far beyond their week at camp.
Since their camp is free for participating families, they rely on support from the valued Milwaukee community in order to make camp possible. On April 21st, they will hold their 2nd annual Make the Magic event at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee, WI, and they are asking for business’s support for their Silent Auction.
What makes the need to donate not just because we like to give back to the community here at latte & Wit. But on a personal level this hits close to home. Now I did not lose my parents but I did lose someone who I considered a parent to cancer, my grandfather. I lost him at the age of 7 to liver cancer that had infected more parts of his organs than just the liver. For the 43% of people who are diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is 31%. If liver cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 11%. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 3%. He was able to survive 10 years battling cancer, I was a part of 7 of those years. He was diagnosed before I was even born. But though the battle he tried to make my childhood as best as he could. But once he was gone, I did not have anyone to connect with or even have the same issues I had as a kid with my peers. I wish that this was around when I was little trying to navigate though light without someone. I am so grateful to be able to have the opportunity to include something special from our business as a part of their silent auction offerings.
Tickets are still available for their event on the 21st. I have added a link to their website to donate or attend the event.
https://donate.kesem.org/events/-/e111679
This is the item that will be up for acution for the event on the 21st.