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Portage Lakes, Ohio —
In September 2007 Shelley Smith died of cancer. She was only 20-years-old. Camp Quality, in Portage Lakes was a place that Shelley loved to be and it is a place where her soul remains.
Camp Quality is a cancer camp for kids. Shelley was a vibrant teenager who loved sports when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. The diagnosis of cancer can rob children of the number of years they live, but Camp Quality is dedicated to giving the quality of life back to those children.
The statistics on childhood cancer are astounding. “In the United States, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every day,” Kerri Franks, Director of Camp Quality, stated. “Cancer is the number one killer of children besides accidents.”
CureSearch.org reports that there are approximately 12,500 children diagnosed with the disease annually. Approximately one in 300 boys and one in 333 girls will develop cancer before the age of 20.
The Information regarding childhood cancer along with available family resources is not well known. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“What Shelley gave me before she died, Franks stated, “was that she wanted an awareness fair. A big carnival. During this fair we are going to have as many resources from the area that we can.”
Shelley was very passionate and had a dream for Camp Quality. “She really challenged us,” Franks said. “She said that we did an awesome job of letting kids be kids again, having fun, and supporting them through that, but she felt there was not enough information about resources.”
She was right. “This is part of the Smiles for Shelley Resources Awareness Fair. We are going to have that carnival like atmosphere that she wanted,” Franks explained.
Many area cancer resources will be available, in one location, to anyone affected by the disease. “Even though this is a serious subject,” Franks stated, “we decided to call it a fun fair so people would not be nervous about coming and realize there is some fun here too.”
The fun will take place on September 18 at Craftsman’s Park, All events, including the Resource tent and Be Bold Wear Gold Games will begin at noon and end at 4:00 p.m. All activities are free. “The fair is open to the public and hopefully the public does join us and become more educated about childhood cancer and the facts,” Franks stated.
Camp Qualities, across the country, will be having a butterfly release at 1:00 p.m. A Kick Cancer Kickball Challenge will be held at 2:00 and a Throw Cancer a Curve Relays will be held at 3. During the events, there will be crafts, inflatables, face painting and plenty of food and games.
Gold is the color for childhood cancer. “Gold is the new pink,” Franks said. “It is nice that there is a lot of pink out there, but it would be nice to get some gold out there as well.”
In September 2007 Shelley Smith died of cancer. She was only 20-years-old. Camp Quality, in Portage Lakes was a place that Shelley loved to be and it is a place where her soul remains.
Camp Quality is a cancer camp for kids. Shelley was a vibrant teenager who loved sports when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. The diagnosis of cancer can rob children of the number of years they live, but Camp Quality is dedicated to giving the quality of life back to those children.
The statistics on childhood cancer are astounding. “In the United States, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every day,” Kerri Franks, Director of Camp Quality, stated. “Cancer is the number one killer of children besides accidents.”
CureSearch.org reports that there are approximately 12,500 children diagnosed with the disease annually. Approximately one in 300 boys and one in 333 girls will develop cancer before the age of 20.
The Information regarding childhood cancer along with available family resources is not well known. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“What Shelley gave me before she died, Franks stated, “was that she wanted an awareness fair. A big carnival. During this fair we are going to have as many resources from the area that we can.”
Shelley was very passionate and had a dream for Camp Quality. “She really challenged us,” Franks said. “She said that we did an awesome job of letting kids be kids again, having fun, and supporting them through that, but she felt there was not enough information about resources.”
She was right. “This is part of the Smiles for Shelley Resources Awareness Fair. We are going to have that carnival like atmosphere that she wanted,” Franks explained.
Many area cancer resources will be available, in one location, to anyone affected by the disease. “Even though this is a serious subject,” Franks stated, “we decided to call it a fun fair so people would not be nervous about coming and realize there is some fun here too.”
The fun will take place on September 18 at Craftsman’s Park, All events, including the Resource tent and Be Bold Wear Gold Games will begin at noon and end at 4:00 p.m. All activities are free. “The fair is open to the public and hopefully the public does join us and become more educated about childhood cancer and the facts,” Franks stated.
Camp Qualities, across the country, will be having a butterfly release at 1:00 p.m. A Kick Cancer Kickball Challenge will be held at 2:00 and a Throw Cancer a Curve Relays will be held at 3. During the events, there will be crafts, inflatables, face painting and plenty of food and games.
Gold is the color for childhood cancer. “Gold is the new pink,” Franks said. “It is nice that there is a lot of pink out there, but it would be nice to get some gold out there as well.”
To represent the 46 children who are diagnosed daily, with cancer, 46 women had their heads shaved in California. One being a local woman, Christine Bradley, whose son Jacob died from cancer at the age of 11. “We are good at the caring, supporting, encouraging, and being there for them once they are diagnosed,” Franks said,” but the month of September is about raising money and awareness for research and for a cure. A lot of the awareness is about hope for a cure.”
Shelley went through every possible test and research project she could on bone cancer. Shelley had made a deal with God before she died. She told God that if she went through this, He would have to save a child. “If I can sacrifice myself, hopefully one more kid won’t have to go through this,” Shelley stated two months before she died. “ Maybe the research that I went through will make a difference. I hope something I go through goes to help them.”
To attend the event, Craftsman’s Park is located at 4450 Rex Lake Drive, off of Route 619. For more information call 330-658-7015 or 330-524-7464 or go to www.campqualityohio.org. For donations, send to Camp Quality, PO Box 2462 Akron, Ohio 44309.
