Kids with cancer are told every day that their cancer diagnosis means they cant. At Camp Ooch, they can. Camp Oochigeas wants to ensure that the magic and transformational power of Ooch is accessible to more kids than ever before. Your donation this holiday season will restore hope and positively impact healing while giving kids with cancer what they need most the chance to be a kid.

Issue 2 Volume 20 Winter 2015

Friends of OochigeasA camp supporting children affected by childhood cancer

The printing of this newsletter was generously donated by RR Donnelley

Camp Oochigeas, 464 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2S6t: 416.961.6624 f: 416.961.2267 e: oochigeas@ooch.org

IN THIS ISSUE

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

MEET AN OOCH DONOR

GIVE THE GIFT OF CAMP THIS

HOLIDAY SEASON

ooch.org

Program Spotlight: 450 Cups Filled at Ooch Muskoka

Nobody judges you at Camp

Ooch, they only care for you, and

inspire you,

Marie, Camper Age 12

Each summer a song is written that integrates a special theme that reflects on the Camp experience. And each year our amazing campers, volunteers and dedicated medical staff sing that song with passion and pride. They sing it for the first time as 450 returning and new counsellors gather for volunteer training. It continues as the foundation of every campfire, dining hall experience and, on occasion, if you listen closely you can hear it being sung as a lullaby of comfort. For the summer of 2015 the theme of this summer song was Fill My Cup.

The reality is many of our campers arrive at Camp and their cups have been emptied by the hardships of paediatric cancer. Days and weeks away from school due to hospital visits and treatment can take kids away from friendship and fun. At Ooch, we aim to give campers as many opportunities to fill their cups with positive experiences that they can draw on when the going gets tough outside of Camp.

With a record-breaking 444 campers at Residential Camp, 59 campers at Day Camp, 147 families attending Family Programs, 57 campers attending Urban Ooch Programs at Ooch Downtown and 2508 camper experiences happening through our In-Hospital Program, this past summer there were many cups to fill. And they filled them!

Campers filled their cups with friendship, confidence, new experiences, life-long memories, silly songs, laughter and joy. They filled their cups on out-trips, climbing the rock-wall, swimming in Lake Donner, catching frogs, on the giant swing, at Polar Bear Dip and even quietly playing cards.

Making these moments happen where kids with and affected by childhood cancer filled their cups is only made possible by incredible donors like you. Because of your generosity hundreds of campers and their families cups are overflowing with friendship and fun.

Campers reach new heights and build confidence on the rock wall.

He was able to be a kid, not a cancer kid, just a kid. You gave me a gift. Thank you, Melissa, Ooch Parent

Fill my cupGonna celebrate,

every day and night

When were all together, itll be alright

Take these moments, everywhere you go

Lets fill our cup, and let it overflow.

Len Lessers mantra is What goes around comes around.

I am a firm believer that what goes around, comes around, says Len Lesser. I have a distinct feeling that I am blessed. I look for opportunities to give back to those who are in need.

Lessers gifts to Camp Ooch have continued since 2006.

I give gifts to Oochigeas to say thank-you and to recognize those who have taken the time to be of assistance to me, my wife and my family.

Lesser has never attended an Ooch program or met the campers and families. He is however deeply convicted by the cause: the value of giving to young people afflicted with cancer what they need most the chance to be a child. We all pray that childhood cancer will soon disappear, but for now we are all fortunate to have Camp Oochigeas lending a comforting hand to those in need. Ooch changes lives and quite simply that is why I give.

Theres no place like Ooch on earth,

David, Ooch Volunteer

Meet Len, a Camp Ooch Donor

Recently Ooch volunteer Marley Cooper received the PwC Canada CEO Communities Award in honour of her volunteer commitment to Ooch Muskoka and Ooch Downtown. This award recognizes individuals and teams who achieve outstanding results and who are role models of the firms values.

To honour Marleys commitment, PwC donated $10,000 to support sending kids with cancer to Camp Ooch!

Volunteer Spotlight

Spread the Magic of Ooch this holiday season!

For $25 receive 25 holiday cards to send to your family and friends. Email HolidayCards@ooch.org to place your order by December 4th.

Marley, second from the left and her cabin mates.

Ooch is not just a camp, it is a home, it

is family,

Jason, Camper Age 17

It doesn ' t know the difference between powd er and

packing . I t can' t make a spy hole, a turret, or even

a wall . I t wouldn't know how to name it, or begin to

defend i t . And i t def in i te l y c an ' t s tock i t w ith

enough snowba l l s . C ancer c an ' t make snowforts .

BUT WITH YOUR HELP, KIDS CAN.

CANCER CANT MAKESNOW FORTS

IN FACT, A DONATION TO CAMP OOCH CAN HELP KIDS BUILD A LOT OF THINGS:

Lifelong memories from 2 weeks at camp $3500Lasting friendships from a week at Ooch $1750 An adventurer's spirit from a weekend at camp $500A bigger imagination from a full day of magic $250A stronger support system from a half day at Ooch $125

Donate today at Ooch.org and help a kid with cancer just be a kid again.