Located in Maine, USA, Camp Sunshine offers therapeutic breaks to families affected by childhood cancer.
Week-long events focus on specific conditions, enabling families with shared experiences to meet and celebrate life.
Retinoblastoma Week was initiated in 2007, guided into existence by the commitment of Colleen Crowley, founder of Retinoblastoma of Arizona. This has become an annual weeklong activity program for the entire family affected by childhood eye cancer.
Help Us Send More Families to Rb Week 2020!
WE C Hope is delighted to have sponsored two families to Camp Sunshine Rb Week this year. With your support, we aim to increase the number of families we sponsor to camp next year. Each family sponsorship costs $2,500, including all accommodation in private family suites on the beautiful campus, meals, activities, and transport from/to Portland.
There are several ways you can support our campaign.
Facebook Fundraiser
Regular Donation
Thank you very much! Please read on to learn more about Camp Sunshine!
The Healing Therapy of Camp Sunshine
Camp Activities
Camp Sunshine focuses on taking care of the whole family. The week is filled with fun activities for children AND parents.
Children enjoy arts & crafts, lake activities, swimming, games and much more. Activities are provided in designated age groups, supported by superb volunteer camp counsellors. Even tiny babies have a special activity program, including daily stroller walks, baby gym and music time.
Parents also form groups, each competing for the camp trophy. Participating in laughter-filled activities during the week wins team points – the team with most points winning the trophy.
Every day, parents meet together with great facilitators to share and discuss the Rb journey.. There is plenty of opportunity for fun and physical activity as well, including a climbing wall, high ropes course, walking trails, swimming and lake activities.
Accommodation is en suite two bedroom cabins on the delightful lakeside campus. The main activity buildings are beautifully decorated, and walking to the beach across Wish Pond Bridge feels like stepping into a new land.
Meals are taken in the lively dining room. Evenings are busy with campfire activities, a costume party, talent show and camp celebration. Midweek, children have their own evening events, while parents enjoy a special meal and entertainment.
During the week, children make special candle-holder wish boats. On the last full day, families gather at the wish pond for their grand launch. This is a magical and moving time as gentle flames reflect on the water in the fading light.
A Therapeutic Experience
Many families find this week to be a life changing experience. Parents often meet other Rb parents in a social setting for the first time, and life-long friendships are quickly rooted.
Children relish the experience of meeting and playing with other children “just like me”. The experience helps retinoblastoma survivors come to terms with low vision, blindness and living with a special eye. Siblings quickly form deep friendships with others who have struggled to be identified as individuals, rather than the sibling of a child with cancer.
The journey to Maine is long for many families. However, parents, siblings and diagnosed children all describe it as “like coming home” because of the opportunity to spend time with others who truly understand their experience of retinoblastoma.
Free of Charge
There is no cost to families, except transport to the campus or to Portland Jetport. All meals, activities and lodging are provided free of charge.
Retinoblastoma Week is open to families outside the USA. The only requirement to attend is having a child affected by retinoblastoma. Boston is a 3hr drive. Flying into Portland ME Jetport through a connecting hub is best. Free pick-up can be arranged by camp staff from the jetport.
Camp Sunshine in a Mother’s Words
This is much more than a week at summer camp. It is time for a family to forget about the everyday worries and enjoy each other. It is a week of being “normal,” surrounded by families just like us who’ve experienced the challenges we’ve been through, who understand our concerns and fears for the future.
It is fun opportunities and laughter-filled days. Most notably, it gives our “baby” the rare occasion to meet other children with Rb and with prosthetic eyes. It gives her the sense of truly belonging, understanding that for just this week, she really is just like everyone else, and she is not alone in her struggles.
Camp Sunshine Rb Week 2019
In 2019, Rb Week at Camp Sunshine ran from Thursday 13 – Tuesday 18 June. Follow the link below to find out more about future programs and to download an application pack.
Help Us Send More Families to Rb Week 2020!
WE C Hope is delighted to have sponsored two families to Camp Sunshine Rb Week in 2019. With your support, we aim to increase the number of families we sponsor to attend camp next year. Each family sponsorship costs $2,500, including all accommodation in private family suites on the beautiful campus, meals, activities, and transport from/to Portland.
There are several ways you can support our campaign.
Facebook Fundraiser
Visit our Facebook Fundraiser to donate and view Camp Sunshine photos, videos and family memories that we’ll share throughout the summer.
Regular Donation
Donate via our regular giving partner, Mighty Cause, and be sure to select Camp Sunshine Rb Week as your designation, so we know your gift is intended for the campaign.
