Summer Camp Kick-Off
Jun 17, 2011 by Gift of Life
News
Gift of Life kicked off its partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp this week at URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi and URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville, Indiana. Both camps educated their staff about how easy it can be to save a life, and that we are all responsible for caring for one another. Staff members learned about Gift of Life’s mission and swabbed their cheeks, making the concept of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) very real.
Ken Bruns, who donated peripheral blood stem cells in 2008, spoke to camp staff at G.U.C.I about his experience. Ken joined the registry on a Taglit-Birthright trip in July 2007 and received a call a year later that he was a match for a 7 year old boy in need of a bone marrow transplant. Ken spoke to the Camp Staff and described the feeling he received after learning that he was a potential match. He said, “I was a little afraid but knew that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I passed up the opportunity out of fear of pain.” Ken went on to describe his peripheral blood stem cell donation and spoke about how proud he was to have given his recipient an opportunity to live a normal life.
Seven hundred miles away at URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica Mississippi, Traci Stratford, Director of Jewish Living and Learning, shared a personal story about one of her camp counselors from years ago who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Traci told staff members that the counselor received a bone marrow transplant last month from an unrelated volunteer donor and is now doing well. Traci’s story spurred other staff members to speak up and share their personal stories about friends and family members who needed transplants, some of whom have passed away, some that are still waiting for a donor, and others who are now well. Traci said, “The discussion we had only strengthen the bonds we have to each other and to the Jewish people and the realizing that we need to do whatever we can to help and support other people in their time of need.” After the discussion, staff were given the opportunity to join the Registry with a simple cheek swab.
For more information on Gift of Life’s “Finding the Hero in You at Camp” Program, please email camp@giftoflife.org.
