In memory of my daughter, Amanda, I am fundraising for North Star Reach, a camp in Pinckney, MI that provides transformative camp experiences for children with serious health challenges and their families – free of charge. The Reinhart Charitable Foundation has generously offered to match the monies we raise at 50%. (So if you donate $20, Reinhart matches with $10 giving North Star Reach a total of $30!)
I admit, when one of the nurses at clinic approached me about Amanda attending cardiology camp at North Star Reach, I was conflicted. On one hand, it sounded like a wonderful experience, especially because Amanda had loved going to Girl Scout camp with her friends before she was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension and she could no longer do so. With her medical needs, she was more than what I could trust any "normal" camp to handle well. On the other hand, I was worried about her going to camp and being surrounded by "sick kids" I didn't want her wallowing in her illness, instead we tried to live life as normally as we could. Fortunately, we decided that she should try camp and see what it was like.
That first year when we picked her up from camp -- she ran over to us when we arrived... to get her phone, so she could go back to her friends and take pics and get their contact info! The friends she made at camp as a camper understood who she was. They understood what it was like to miss school because of lengthy hospitalizations, numerous doctors appointments and sometimes just feeling crummy. They visited one another when they were in the hospital. One summer, we had a sleepover at our house with some of the girls from her cabin -- and one of the mom's told me that her daughter hadn't ever slept over at a friend's house because of her medical needs. (I might have panicked a bit after that phone call, but ultimately the evening went great and the girls had a blast) Amanda's friends came from all over the state to attend her graduation party -- and she traveled to go to theirs. Camp builds a community for the campers, which they can not easily find elsewhere.
Now, it wasn't always perfect. Three of Amanda's close camp friends passed away, which was devastating. But when Amanda passed away in July, her camp friends and their parents came, providing our family much needed comfort. We will always be connected to them and their families.
I hope that by raising money for North Star Reach, they can continue to give more children the special bonds that Amanda and her friends had.
Hear more about Amanda's camp story in her own words here: Amanda's Story
And to find out more about North Star Reach and their programs, visit their website: North Star Reach
Thank you so much for supporting me in raising funds for North Star Reach in honor of Amanda's memory. I am very grateful for your generosity.
