Alumni work with cancer Patients

By Stephanie Strauss / Senior writer

For children diagnosed with cancer, life has already thrown more hurdles at them than most people experience in a lifetime. Painful surgeries, long hospital stays and a constant stream of various medications and drugs leave little time for fun. However, for young cancer patients in the Harrisonburg area, a new summer camp founded by two JMU alumni aims to bring a little more fun into their lives.

Camp Unali, is Cherokee for "friends," will be sponsored by the Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation department this summer, from July 5 to 8. The camp is completely free to children from seven to 16-years-old who currently are suffering — or recently recovering — from cancer. Medical staff will be available at all times to ensure that patients receive the attention and care they require.

Jason Smith (’01), a co-founder of Camp Unali, saw there was a lack of camps in the Harrisonburg area that catered specifically to children with cancer. There are only two other camps like Unali in all of Virginia, Smith said.

Jennifer Queen, the program director of Camp Smile-A-Mile in Birmingham, Ala., which has served children with cancer for 20 years, said, "When a child is diagnosed with cancer or other illness, they can’t usually go to another camp, like a Girl Scout Camp, because their medical needs are so great."

Besides providing typical camp activities like horseback riding, swimming and arts and crafts, Camp Unali also provides children an opportunity to bond with other kids who are going through the same difficult illness. Allyson Ratliff (’01), the camp’s co-founder, said, "Because the kids face similar issues and disabilities, it is going to make it a very tight-knit community."

Camp Unali is a year-round program that will host a variety of activities, such as reunions, day trips to sporting events, and family outings. "Our goal is to have kids create as many friendships as possible," Smith said.

Smith said right now they are concentrating on raising money and finding staff for Camp Unali’s fledgling year. Staff volunteers are needed in positions from cooks to counselors. "We are looking for anyone with an open heart and open mind to help out," Ratliff said.

For further information about Camp Unali, the camp Web site is www.campunali.com or e-mail them at campunali@hotmail.com.