Probably all of us know someone that has dealt with cancer. It definitely has impacted my life! I had always wanted to do more; I just didn't know where to begin. When I met the Tour For Kids Team at the bike show last year the answer became obvious. Ride in the 2006 Tour For Kids epic ride. Aside from the money that I would raise, it allowed me to bring awareness to my sponsors.

I must say, from beginning to end, it was the most organized, well thought out event that I have ever participated in. What deeply touched me were the morning and evening heartfelt inspirational messages by representative(s) from Camps Trillium, Oochigeas and Quality. The ride turned out to be the hardest, most gratifying event that I have ever done in my 51 years.

After the ride I felt that I needed and wanted to do more. In talking with Louisa at Tour For Kids I realized I could volunteer some time at one of the camps. With medical and background checks completed, last weekend found me just outside Waterford at Camp Trillium's Rainbow Lake.

Quite frankly there was a certain amount of trepidation, as I didn't know what to expect. I need not have been worried! After being greeted by a warm, enthusiastic staff, we had a dinner/staff meeting where all my questions were answered. The structure of the weekend was discussed and each volunteer was assigned three or four "special friends" These are children that over the course of the weekend you would spend more time with. In addition you help them with anything they are struggling with and take them to the "Body Shop" if they need med.

The weekend just flew by! Before the kids came at 8:00 Friday night, I was given a tour of a very impressive camp. At the "Body Shop" the nurse gave us background information on our "special friends". All nutritious meals and snacks were eaten in a large hall. It was like one big, happy family, eating and laughing together around tables. The kids ate first, then, as the staff ate, they would chant songs like: We are table number one, number one, where is table two?

Between eating there were different events every hour. Events were broken down between indoor/outdoor and physical/more sedentary activities. The kids had the choice of indoor hockey, outdoor hockey, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, hayrides, arts and crafts, indoor games, cooking / baking, dress up, skits, and story telling. Our cabin even had a game of pick up hockey at 7:30 in the morning. We only had a broom, a ball, and a dust pan. It didn't matter!

Whatever the event, there were two things that prevailed. Kids just want to be kids. Secondly, was the positive attitude of the entire camp. Everywhere I went, there were lots of smiles and hugs. I found people to be very supportive of each other; more so than any other environment I have encountered to date. Many of the campers were repeat campers. Some of the staff had been campers themselves. This group was a tight knit family with a common theme.

It was a pleasurable, action packed weekend that was filled with a love for living. Whatever time and energy I gave to the children, I got back so much more in gratitude. At my age, I have developed coping strategies to deal with tragic events such as cancer. These kids taught me the real meaning of life. At night around a campfire with a child in my lap the last song we sang before bed went something like this: May tonight I dream of love, peace and hope.

You can learn a lot from a child!