This year marks the 32nd year of Camp Quality in Northwest Missouri where each year, children diagnosed with cancer can spend a week at the summer camp.
The camp runs entirely off of donations and one of many fundraisers is on Friday.
Adam Nelson is the Co-Executive Director for Camp Quality Northwest Missouri.
Nelson said each year around 90 to 105 campers attend and this year, they’re planning for 110 campers. Nelson said it takes a lot of helpers to make the camp week a great experience and those include medical staff so campers can focus on having fun at camp.
“We use it a lot… but it’s ‘Letting kids with cancer be kids again,’” Nelson said. “They spend all their time going to doctor’s appointments, going to treatment, they sometimes don’t get to go to school because of their immune system, they don’t get to be a part of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts and so, for this week, and then any other activities that we provide that’s what we’re trying to provide for them, is let them have the opportunity to do that.”
Nelson said having 110 campers means they need 110 or more companions. Each camper is matched with at least one companion for the week who takes care of the camper and makes sure they have everything they need for a great camp experience. One of those companions will be a former camper, Caleb.
“I will be taking care of a camper, following him around, basically being his parent for a week,” Caleb said.
Caleb was a Camp Quality camper for 12 years. He said when he was 5 years old his family found out he had cancer and the staff at Children’s Mercy told them about the camp. Now, Caleb is cancer free, just graduated from high school and is headed to the Marines. Before he leaves, though, he is returning to camp as a companion this year.
Nelson said while a lot of work goes into the one week out of the year for camp, they also work to offer year-round support and events for the camper’s families.
The camp relies on donations and one of the many ways money is raised is through KJO 105.5’s Radio-a-thon.
K-JO Morning Personality Gregg Lynn will be broadcasting live from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday at Sav-On Furniture Mart to raise money for the camp which takes place June 11-16 this year.
The public is invited to visit Save-On Furniture Mart on Friday and make a donation to Camp Quality, or call in a pledge to (816) 232-CAMP. Donations can also be made anytime online.