A helping hand

For children with cancer, the chance to relax and enjoy activities in a camp environment is a welcome respite from the daily burdens of dealing with the disease. Sunrise Day Camp, supported by its devoted corps of volunteers, is such a place.

Here – amidst the 300 acres at the Henry Kaufmann campgrounds in Wheatley Heights – kids can enjoy being kids. It is a place filled with inspiration, from the enthusiastic campers to those dedicated volunteers who supplement the hard-working full-time staff.

Sunrise Day Camp, which opened in 2006 to respond to the needs of children with cancer and their siblings, has significantly expanded its programming in order to assist families year round. These activities, which include the monthly Sunrise Sundays and school vacation programs, enable campers and volunteers to stay connected throughout the year.

Sunrise on Wheels – the in-hospital outreach program for children and their families – is another important extension of the camp. “These outreach programs have taken on a life of their own,” said Judy Fishkind, Sunrise Day Camp’s marketing director. “We depend on our volunteers to continue to help these programs grow.”

Spreading sunshine

Volunteers from Sunrise on Wheels come to the waiting room or playroom at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York (formerly Schneider Children’s Hospital) and the other participating hospitals – Stony Brook University Hospital, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center – with a rainbow colored tie-dye trunk filled with toys and projects to entertain kids during their hours in the hospital.