Camp Quality Christchurch to Receive Civic Award

03 December 2010

Camp Quality Christchurch to Receive Civic Award

Camp Quality Christchurch will be acknowledged for their contribution to caring for young children with cancer in the region by being presented with a Christchurch City Council Civic Award next Wednesday (December 8).

Camp Quality is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to bringing fun, hope and happiness to children living with cancer. It provides week-long summer camps for youngsters aged 5-16, as well as year long support for the children and their families.

The Christchurch City Council presents awards to recognise substantial service, usually of a voluntary nature, which benefits the city of Christchurch and its people. The Civic Awards are granted annually to people and organisations.

Camp Quality Christchurch Regional Manager, Robyn Burke, says “the motivation behind the nomination was to raise awareness of Camp Quality in Christchurch by promoting the contribution of our trained companions to the camps and community.”

This year Camp Quality marked its 25th anniversary with a variety of events taking place nationwide. Christchurch will be celebrating its own 25th camp from the
16th - 21st January 2011.

The Christchurch camp will attract around 56 campers and companions with a ‘Round the World in 6 Days’ theme. It will be one of five regional summer camps nationwide that around 300 youngsters attend with more than 700 volunteers, helping to make the camps a safe and fun environment.

Aeronwy Cording, a former Christchurch camper, says Camp Quality has had a tremendous impact on her. “When I was diagnosed with leukaemia two months after my 14th birthday, I knew that my life had changed forever,” she says and describes her first week at Camp Quality as “one of the best weeks of my life. I suddenly found a place where I could be a kid again.”

Now a companion, Aeronwy wanted to help other give children the same opportunities Camp Quality had given her. “There is a real thrill in seeing campers change over the years and see them completely enthralled in the slightly magical camp experience.”

According to Child Cancer Foundation statistics, about 150 young New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year. Camp Quality passionately believes in the power of fun to help these children and their families overcome the challenges of living with cancer.

ENDS

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