WHAT THIS IS ABOUT:
I am raising money for Camp del Corazon, a 501(c)3 started in 1995 by a UCLA pediatric cardiologist and Cath Lab nurse to create a place for kids living with heart disease to experience summer camp on Catalina Island in a safe and medically supervised residential setting. Now, in 2024, we are celebrating the 30th year of Camp del Corazon's summer camp, having served over 7,000 cardic kids in the past 3 decades! Wow!!
WHY:
Camp del Corazon's Summer Camp creates a safe space for special kids to not have to feel special--to be among peers who are like them and to not feel different. All while benefiting from the therapeutic outdoor activities of summer camp on the Pacific Ocean: kayaking, snorkeling, high ropes, ziplining, archery, skit night, swimming, hiking, and being away from parents! Due to the high acuity of their cardiac conditions, most of our campers have never experienced these type of activities or spent a night away from home that wasn't in the hospital. Camp becomes more than just an experience for them...it becomes a new family, a new home, and a place where they discover their best selves. At the end of 5 days at camp, our campers go home with newfound confidence, resilience, and friendships that last them a lifetime. Don't believe me...check this out!
AND if that wasn't magical enough, the entire experience is FREE to every camper! Which is only possible with your generous support! Please consider clicking the donate button below to help us continue to provide this experience for free to every kid who wants to come to Camp. Thank you!
ABOUT ME:
Born with Shone's Complex, I have had 4 open heart surgeries and 9 catheterizations and angioplasties. My last surgery in 2017 gifted me with 2 mechanical valves and a new lease on life that has lead me to dedicate myself to the service of the congenital heart community. While I was never a camper at Camp del Corazon, I have been a volunteer counselor for 6 years and have been the Director of Development for Camp del Corazon for a little over a year.