Camp “Ray of Hope” 2008

For the past three years, S.T.A.R. Children Relief has organized a one week camp for children with bleeding disorders in Romania. This year, from June 28 to July 4, we held the camp at a rented facility in central Romania at the foot of the Apuseni Mountains.
Attending were 40 children with hemophilia: 39 boys with hemophilia and one girl with von Willebrand disease, ages eight to 18, from all corners of Romania.
                                  
The camp facility was modern, with spacious rooms and private bathrooms. The dining area overlooked a peaceful pond and the food was great! The clinic was in a separate room under the direct control of the camp nurse and doctor. The factor was plentiful thanks to several generous donors. The medical staff conducted infusion classes outside the clinic on a patio overlooking the pool; the children learned to infuse using a latex arm. An English physiotherapist who specializes in hemophilia examined all the children to assess joint damage, and taught water exercises. A psychologist helped the children face certain fears and anxieties, such as nervousness about leaving home for the first time.

Each year we identify a camp theme: our first year we celebrated beach and water sports; our second Dracula; and this year, karate. My husband, Tom, a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, did not want to focus on karate as a series of fighting methods and techniques or of combat sports and self defense. He wanted to showcase karate for its philosophy: self development, perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, personal conviction, and leadership skills. Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate, once said, “The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”

Once we established a camp theme, we created activities specifically designed for children with hemophilia that would incorporate karate activities and philosophy.
We did karate every day— easy arm and leg movements without body contact, followed by talks on the philosophy and meaning of the sport. Instead of karate belts, the children received colored stripes on their caps, so that by the end of the week, every child received a yellow, green, red and finally the much sought after black stripe.

Other activities included arts and crafts, swimming, soccer, table tennis, billiard, basketball, tennis, boating and water fights. One day we held a birthday party for everyone born in the months of June and July. Ten children and adults, including myself, had to feed each other ice cream while blindfolded. Most of the ice cream went on our face and clothes, a fun activity for those watching.

Another day we had a weird dress up day. It was so much fun to see everyone use their imagination by utilizing the few things they found in their suitcase and their room to come up with something funny and weird to wear. We paraded our garbs through the village and drew the attention and laughter of many onlookers.

On another day we participated in Outward Bound, a program that uses a series of high rope courses that teach confidence, awareness, trust and leadership skills. The children tried the climbing wall and the parallel beams, two very challenging courses. Some children did not finish the course, but some did, to their own surprise and delight.

The children overcame fear and anxiety and achieved something they never thought they could. Everyone was praised even if they could not finish the course. Every child’s success was reason to celebrate, but there was one child in particular that commended more attention than the rest: the only girl in the group! As she tried the climbing wall, she lost footing and asked to be lowered. The boys did not let her and urged her to try again. She did and slowly climbed all the way to the top under a crescendo of the boy’s cheers. The involvement of the whole team was the key to success. It strengthened the team’s spirit and the feeling of accomplishment. Her accomplishment was everyone’s accomplishment.

The last event of the camp was the Talent Show which gave everyone the opportunity to participate and have fun: singing, dancing and clowning around. We even staged a mock karate fight.

This camp was a great success because of the generosity of many organizations and individuals. We thank everyone for their thoughtfulness and kindness.

It felt like every day was a holiday.
 
Alexandru