Camp Good Days and Special Times, located on the shore of pristine Keuka Lake in Branchport, New York, will again be offering their Women’s Oncology Program during the summer and fall of 2010. The first two sessions, the Arts & Crafts Program and the Adventure Program, will be held May 21-23 and July 9-11, respectively.
The Arts & Crafts Program will feature scrapbooking, jewelry making, painting, and other artistic activities. It is open to women ages 18 and older who have various types of cancer. Women who have been recently diagnosed or are in the midst of treatment, as well as women who are in remission, are welcome to attend. The Adventure Program in July will provide attendees with the opportunity to boat, swim, fish, climb the camp’s rock wall, go on nature hikes, and participate in the camp’s rope course.
A third option for women with cancer, called the Wellness Program, will be held September 10-12, and will offer participants makeovers, massages, manicures and pedicures, and the chance to try yoga and reiki. A second session of the Wellness Program, Wellness Program II, will take place October 22-24. For younger adults battling cancer, the Young Adult Program, held June 18-20, is open to both men and women ages 18-39. The Supportive Spouse/Friend Program during the weekend of September 24-26 is structured for men and women with cancer who are 18 and older who want to bring a significant other or friend along with them.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Camp Good Days and Special Times mission, the organization is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit group that is “dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults, and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges.” It was founded more than thirty years ago in Upstate NY by Gary Mervis, the father of a young girl who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Since the organization began hosting cancer sufferers on the shores of Keuka Lake, over 42.000 campers from 22 states and 25 countries have attended.
Women have many health issues to consider, but one particular issue – asbestos mesothelioma cancer – is something that the majority of women probably never even think about. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, and is typically associated with veterans, miners and construction workers. However, within the last decade, the number of women who have developed and died from mesothelioma cancer has increased due to second-hand asbestos exposure. Women may think that they are not at risk for developing mesothelioma, but they are wrong. It is important for women to understand how they may be exposed to asbestos, and to know the symptoms of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos illnesses. Mesothelioma has no known cure, like many other forms of cancer, and is particularly aggressive, generally taking the lives of its victims in less than two years after diagnosis.
All women interested in attending a weekend session at Camp Good Days and Special Times this summer should contact Tamara Federico at 585-624-5555 or via email at tfederico@campgooddays.org.
Those interested in volunteering with the organization should visit their website, http://www.campgooddays.org/. You may also wish to donate to the group via their website as well, or donate over the telephone (800-785-2135).
For more information about mesothelioma cancer, please visit the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center website. The MAA Center is a trusted Internet resource for information about this rare form of cancer, and has been certified by DisabilityInfo.gov and accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation. To make a donation to the Mesothelioma Family Assistance Foundation, visit the Stop Mesothelioma page on Facebook.
