Campers from last year’s 2014 Hope Loves Company Kids Camp for children and young adults with parents battling ALS. The 2015 Kids Camp is set to take place October 16 through 18.
Children and young adults, who have parents battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), are invited to attend the third Hope Loves Company Kids’ Camp in October. Hope Loves Company, in conjunction with another local ALS organization, HARK, provide the free camp for children in the tri- state area.
Hope Loves Company Kids’ Camp is scheduled for October 16 through October 18, 2015, at Frost Valley YMCA located at 2000 Frost Valley Road in Claryville, New York. The camp program is free to 40 plus children and grandchildren of ALS patients in the tri-state area and beyond. It is a sleepover weekend retreat.
Hope Loves Company is a 501 (c)3 non- profit dedicated to supporting children and young adults who have family members living with ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It is the only non-profit with this specific mission. Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, President and Founder of Hope Loves Company, began planning the mission of HLC after realizing the lack of resources available for children of ALS patients.
O’Donnell-Ames has three children- now all young adults – who have lost a parent to ALS before turning 12, so she knew from personal experience how ALS affects a family, especially children.
HLC Kid’s Camp will offer fun experiences- including hikes, games, Zip line and rock climbing. Counselors will also be available for children who want to seek support. Even more important, children attending will all have something in common and can build new friendships and feel less alone in their challenges with a parent battling ALS.
In 2001, soon after Kevin passed, Jodi began working for the ALS Hope Foundation, a nonprofit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Director of Communications. There, she organized an ALS kid’s day for children and grandchildren of ALS patients. She ordered copies of What Did You Learn Today? a children’s book written by Tina Singer Ames, who bravely battled ALS in 2000. The books, which were given to kids attending the event, were delivered by Tina’s widowed husband, Warren Ames, and his children Nora and Adam. Two years later, Warren and Jodi were married and Alina, Adam and Nora became siblings.
Due to the ice bucket challenge, many more people are aware of ALS and the fact that 30,000 Americans live with the disease- 5,000 are newly diagnosed each year.
To learn more about HLC and see how you can sponsor a child’s camp experience, visit hopelovescompany.com. To register a child, go to hopelovescompany@gmail.com.
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