Camp Challenge Saved Jay's Life

Jay moved to Camp Challenge when he was five years old when his Mom, Maggie fulfilled a dream 15 years in the making of becoming the camp director. Jay grew up at camp long before moving there; his earliest memories are of the farm, dancing with campers, and making s’mores at camp fires. When Jay was just six years old he was diagnosed with leukemia. Instead of making childhood memories at camp, he was in and out the hospital for the next five years. Despite the doctor’s very best efforts, Jay relapsed and had severe complications that led to him being on life support, in the cardiac intensive care unit, and ultimately the amputation of his left arm. Jay also watched child after child die on the cancer unit. Seven other children. Seven friends dead. Through it all, Jay had camp waiting for him at home. Before the amputation, he told the doctors and social workers it was okay they had to cut off his arm; he had friends at camp that didn’t have arms and had all kinds of disabilities and they had perfectly happy lives. The idea of coming home to camp kept Jay going while he lived in the hospital for over a year of consecutive nights and over 500 nights total. When Jay finally came home he relied on a wheelchair to get around, he had a feeding tube, two permanent IV lines in his chest, leg braces, and extreme restrictions on his activity. It was enough to break any child’s spirit. Instead, Jay thrived because Jay was at camp. Camp. A place where he could be a child in an adaptive environment designed to meet the special needs he now had, with a host of staff that were trained to not only care for his needs, but his spirit as well. Jay is now a healthy and happy 12 year old boy that loves to swim, fly down the zip line, and tie dye anything he can get his hands on. Camp has taught Jay that bad day is always made better by adding a little glitter.

Pediatric cancer is a devastating diagnosis for a family, especially the child. The teams of doctors and specialists do an amazing job saving lives. Unfortunately, life looks very different for some children when they do survive. Programs like Camp Challenge give those children, children like Jay, a place to heal and a place to grow. Camp Challenge provides camping and recreation to children and adults with disabilities and special needs. It really provides so much more. It provides hope. It provides a second chance. It provides a place where disability doesn’t matter. It provides a better life.

That’s why Team Jay has committed to raising $10,000 for Easterseals Camp Challenge through the Take the Challenge 5k. It’s a big task, but Jay has done tougher and programs like Camp Challenge are why he’s thriving today. You can run or walk in person, or participate virtually. Anyone that signs up and raises at least $100 or donates more than $100 through Team Jay will also get a tie-dye bandana made by Jay. So run with us, walk with us, participate from where you are, or donate today!

Our Team

  • LM Logan Miller $50.00
  • CM Carolyn Magner $30.00
  • ST Sara Taylor $30.00
  • ER Erin Rucker $25.00
  • MR Michael Rucker $25.00
  • KH Kathryn Hilding $25.00
  • RV Rocio Villanueva $12.50
  • PD Pamela Deras $12.50
  • SH Stephanie Hanks $12.50
  • MD Maggie Denk $0.00

$702.51

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$10,000.00

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Our Supporters

  • Chelsea Parkhurst November 2019 $75.00
  • Carolyn Magner October 2019 $25.00
  • Kathryn Hilding October 2019 $10.00
  • William Duncan October 2019
  • Marcie Golgoski I can’t be there in person on November 2 but I will always be supporting Team Jay! September 2019 $100.00
  • Marcie Golgoski I can’t be there in person on November 2 but I will always be supporting Team Jay! September 2019 $100.00
  • Chelsea Parkhurst November 2019 $75.00
  • Sara Taylor August 2019 $50.00
  • Carolyn Magner October 2019 $25.00
  • Kathryn Hilding October 2019 $10.00