'Sunshine Games' at special needs camp in Worcester

WORCESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Counselors and campers at a special needs camp in Worcester, Montgomery County took part in their 15th annual Annie Madden Sunshine Games.

"Everyone's having fun around here," said Kevin Gaul, camper.

Which could be the case any given day at Variety Club Camp in Worcester. It's a camp for children with physical and developmental disabilities.

However Friday was a special day - the annual Annie Madden Sunshine Games, held in memory of a counselor who died in a car accident in 1999.

"Annie was a fun-loving person. She always had a good time when she was here and her parents wanted to bring that out in the day and they certainly succeeded," said Angus Murray, COO of Variety Club Camp.

The day started with the National Anthem at the opening ceremony and soon it was time for the games to begin.

Slip and slide, a spaghetti search, there were even some mummies in the making. But perhaps one of the favorite stops was the dunk tank.

"The campers can dunk the counselors," said Kenneth Jones.

Indeed that's where we found Action News anchor Matt O'Donnell lending his pitching prowess to the campers who gleefully watched as their counselor took the plunge over and over and over again.

Campers say it's one of their favorite days on their, already fun, summer schedule. It's a day full with a little competition and a lot of smiles.

"It helps everybody in the surrounding area and the kids really feel at home here. It's a place where the kids can really be themselves," said Tammy Gaul, parent.

For more on the Variety Club Camp: http://www.varietyphila.org/club-camp