A great turnout this past Sunday at the Camp Oochigeas Open House in Rosseau.
It was a time for parents and relatives to see first hand the camp which brings so much enjoyment to kids who are living with cancer.
We spoke to one camper, 12 year old Clayton Digiacomo who has been cured of leukaemia. He told us why he keeps coming back year after year….
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Digiacomo is from Muskoka and he’s now been attending for seven years. Some of his favourite activities include the rock wall, swing and ropes course.
Michelle Afinec, the camp’s Director of Development, says 450 campers are enrolled this year in the summer day camp program. Campers work daily on skills like swimming and canoeing. A high school gym credit is also provided through the camp…
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There is much more to the Camp Oochigeas organization than just the summer residential camp. Year round, the first of its kind Ooch Downtown inner city rec centre serves children living with cancer in Toronto. As well, the organization has 8 staffers who work seven days a week in the oncology department at Sick Kids Hospital helping children during their cancer journey.
Overall, Afinec says the organization serves over 1,000 families and youth each year. Afinec says people tell them they want ‘more Ooch, more often’ and that in order to do it, continued community support is needed. For more information, visit Ooch.org
PHOTO: (L-R) Marg Wiley, Camp Oochigeas’ Residential Manager, camper Clayton Digiacomo and Camp Oochigeas’ Director of Development Michelle Afinec. Photo by Matt Sitler.