Camp Kesem Counselor Fundraising!

Hi everyone! My name is Parker Tremaine, and I am fundraising as a Camp Kesem counselor for the Johns Hopkins University chapter. Camp Kesem is a week-long summer camp for children and teens who have or had a parent with cancer. This is an amazing camp that gives these kids the opportunity to step away from the hardships at home and enjoy a fun and connective camp experience.

When I was eleven years old, I began attending Camp Kesem at the College of William & Mary. The prior summer my dad died from colon cancer, and I never really felt understood by my friends at home because they hadn't experienced the same things I had been through. In attending this camp, I met so many campers and counselors who could relate to my life in a way that finally made me feel normal. Outside of that, it felt like the first chance I had been able to feel and act like a kid after what had happened. I continued attending this camp all the way through my sophomore year of high school, and only stopped because of Covid. Camp Kesem helped me develop skills to process both the loss of my dad and when my mom experienced her own treatment, all while singing camp songs and making friendship bracelets. I can easily say that this camp has changed my life for the better, and I am so excited to get involved with this organization again at my own university.

One of the amazing things about this camp is that it is free for all participants, including transportation to our Baltimore campsite. The only reason this is possible is due to the individual fundraising of our counselors, and events we hold throughout the year. This is why I am asking for your support in any way you are able. These contributions will change the lives of these kids, just as this camp changed mine when I was young.