THUNDER BAY, ON, July 13, 2016 – Camp Quality Northwestern Ontario is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year, with camp week taking place July 10-16th at East Loon Lake at Camp Duncan. 19 campers, children with cancer and their siblings, are experiencing a week of fun with their volunteer Companions through a variety of activities such as crafts, sports, fishing with the police, swimming, Harley Davidson rides, a visit to the Staal Foundation Open, campfires and more.
“We’re incredibly excited to be celebrating our 15th anniversary this year,” said Ashleigh Quarrell, Director of Camp Quality Northwestern Ontario. “This milestone represents an important opportunity for us to thank all of our supporters over the years. We are grateful to have had many donors and volunteers help us to bring our programs to children with cancer and their families. We are also privileged to have been able to touch so many lives since our start in 2001.”
Camp Quality provides uplifting and empowering camp experiences for kids with cancer and their siblings through its signature week-long camp and year-round support. Campers ages 4-18 are welcomed from across the Northwestern Ontario region to attend camp at no cost to their families.
Aside from the basics and the exciting trip to the Staal Foundation Open, campers and volunteers visited Gammondale Farm for a fun-filled morning of crafts, duck races, wagon races, horse rides and more. The Gammonds provided the experience free of charge and wrapped it up with a special lunch with Dawson Debrusk, who has donated his birthday money to Camp Quality for several years. Next was a trip to the Canada Games Complex and then to Merla Mae for a sweet treat.
“My favourite part of camp is interacting with the campers and volunteers and just having a good time together,” said 12–year old camper Noah Bertoni. “My companion always has my back and we have lots of similarities – we both love tubing and both love music. It’s fun to hang around with him. Camp Quality does a lot of stuff for my family.” This is Bertoni’s sixth year at camp, which he attends with his younger brother Lucas.
Camp Quality will be ending the week with a bang, hosting a 15th Anniversary bash which will welcome past and current volunteers, donors and families to join in for dinner, camper awards, a dance party and fireworks.
Members of the community are invited to get an inside look at what’s taking place at Camp Quality this week by liking the organization’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/CampQualityNWO.
