Local camp helps children with cancer

June 29, 2011

"It's like the safest and funnest place in the world," said Chris Dobbins of West Deptford, N.J.

He was diagnosed with cancer, when he was just six and each year since then has gone to Camp No Worries.

"It's just so much fun hanging out with these kids that I've met over the years," said Dobbins.

9-year old Ian Roonan of Northeast Philadelphia has a brain tumor but enjoys the time he spends at Camp No Worries.

"We get away from everything so I'm pretty happy. I'm very, very happy here," said Roonan.

The program runs completely on donations and whether it's learning how to scuba dive or decorating picture frames, the fun is non-stop.

"The atmosphere is so positive, it's just a really good place for the kids to be. We offer so many different activities," said Christopher Callanan, the camp's director.

30-year old cancer survivor Natalie Richardson first came here as a 13-year old with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She's now the program director and remembers feeling different from other kids when she was sick.

"Cancer's something scary. So being in a place like this where everybody understands what you're going through and what you've been through, it's really nice to have that," said Richardson.

What also makes Camp No Worries different from other camps is that there is no paid staff. The cooks, the counselors and the nurses are all volunteers who give up a week of their vacation to be there.

"How could you not love this?! This is the best week of the year to be able to play with these kids and have so much fun with them," said arts and crafts director Peggy Birdsall.

Bringing a smile to the faces of their young campers, that's what this camp is all about.

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