Chai
Lifeline is a not for profit organization dedicated to helping
children suffering
from serious illness
as well as their
family members.
Chai offers an
ongoing schedule of
events and get
togethers and hosts
one of the best kids
camps imaginable "so
my son says".
Light The Night is
an annual Society
event to raise funds
for cures. It’s the
nation’s night to
pay tribute and
bring hope to
thousands of
patients and their
families. A truly
Heart warming
evening not to be
missed. I'll see you
there.
Children's
Miracle Network is a
non-profit
organization
dedicated to helping
kids by raising
funds for 170
children's hospitals
across North
America. Each year
these non-profit
hospitals provide
the finest care,
research and
community outreach
to help millions of
children with
diseases and
injuries of every
kind. In Canada,
Children's Miracle
Network raises funds
for 14 children’s
hospitals, and has
helped millions of
Canadian children.
Making Dreams Come
True :)
The Trillium Childhood Cancer Support Centre offers and promotes
recreational experiences to bring children with cancer and their families
together. The Trillium Centre provides an environment that normalizes
relationships and experiences, helping children and families in the
healing process and enhancing their quality of life.
Cancer
changes
a
child’s
life.
So
does
camp.
Camp
Oochigeas
can
change
a
child’s
life
–
for
better,
and
forever.
Camp
Oochigeas
is
much
more
than
a
summer
camp.
Camp
Oochigeas
offers
year-round
programs
for
children
affected
by
childhood
cancer
at
our
site
in
Muskoka,
at
the
Hospital
for
Sick
Children
and
in
the
community
http://www.ooch.org/
By
MICHAEL
SEGAL
Special
to
The
CJN
TORONTO -
Ask 11-year-old
Robert Jones if he
wants to watch a
homemade family
video and you’ll
likely get an
indifferent shrug of
the shoulders. Ask
him about viewing a
video of Camp Simcha
and he jumps at the
opportunity.
“I really enjoy Camp
Simcha,” he
enthuses. “You can
forget about all
your worries in life
there and just have
fun.”
Located in upstate
New York, the camp
provides a joyous
reprieve for
children with cancer
and other
life-threatening
illnesses.
It’s one of several
programs and
services offered by
Chai Lifeline, a
not-for-profit
organization
dedicated to helping
kids with serious
health problems and
their families.
“Something that’s a
little different
about pediatric
illnesses is that it
really affects the
entire family,” says
Rabbi Mordechai
Rothman, executive
director of Chai
Lifeline Canada.
“We try to provide
programs that give
that extra needed
care to the child,
their siblings and
the parents. And we
never ask for
payment from
families.”
Launched in New York
in 1986, Chai
Lifeline now has
regional offices in
five American
states, as well as
Israel and England,
and it’s been in
Canada for a few
years.
The Canadian office
recently ramped up
its diverse network
of programs to
include everything
from family
counselling and
tutoring services to
Big Brother and Big
Sister programs and
toy drives.
The Jones’ learned
about Chai Lifeline
while Robert was at
the Hospital for
Sick Children
receiving care for
leukemia.
Robert initially
linked up with a
Chai Big Brother who
later referred him
to the camp.
“At Camp Simcha,
they make a
conscientious effort
that all kids share
in the same fun,”
says Robert’s
mother, Rona
Geringer.
“And they are also
very concerned about
the kid’s medical
conditions and
accommodate kids
across all
spectrums.”
To that end, the
camp has medical
professionals
onsite, including
oncologists and
nurses, who can
cater to the
children’s medical
issues, if
necessary.
While Chai Lifeline
is still relatively
new in Canada, it’s
making an indelible
mark.
“If you talk to any
of our families,
they will tell you
what a difference we
make in their
lives,” Rabbi
Rothman says.
“We just want to be
there for you and do
whatever we can for
your family.”
In addition to his
summers at Camp
Simcha, Robert has
also travelled to
Orlando, Fla., on a
trip organized by
Chai Lifeline.
“It was probably one
of the most amazing
trips of my life,”
he says.
Robert’s father
Frank says Chai’s
programs haven’t
just provided his
son with fun and
entertainment, but
they have also
taught him to
appreciate what he
has.
“Robert sits down
and writes thank-you
letters to the
people at Chai
Lifeline, because he
has become so
appreciative of how
people have gone out
of their way for
him,” Frank says.
There are about 50
Chai Lifeline
volunteers in Canada
and Rabbi Rothman
says the
organization always
welcomes more help.
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to Buy or Sell real estate in the Central Toronto area? Well you
have come to the right place.
