40 years later, children and families dealing with the realities of cancer are still benefitting from the dedication and programs Camp Good Days has to offer. In honor of these past 40 years, Camp Good Days of Western New York is bringing the community together to congregate and celebrate the impact this organization has on so many lives affected by the realities of hospitals, operations and the realities of cancer, 365 days a year.
In support of Camp Good Days’ 40th Anniversary Reunion Weekend, Big Ditch Brewing Company has specially crafted and launched “Good Day IPA,” available at their brewery starting Monday, July 15th to Friday, July 19th – leading up to the official reunion weekend.
At the end of this week, 15% of all proceeds made from the total sale of all “Good Day IPA” will directly go toward Camp Good Days, to assist their mission.
"We are happy to support Camp Good Days by donating proceeds from the sale of “Good Day IPA,” a small batch IPA we developed. We hope this contribution will help to further Camp Good Days’ mission of making the lives of children dealing with cancer, and their families, as happy and rewarding as possible,” Matt Kahn, Co-Founder and President of Big Ditch Brewing Company said. “We invite our guests across Western New York to join us further Camp Good Days cause as they continue changing lives."
The Camper Reunion runs Saturday, July 20th at 12pm to Sunday, July 21st at Camp Good Days Recreational Facility in Branchport, NY, near Keuka Lake. Events include dinner and dancing with a live band, time-capsule reveals, fireworks, and other family-friendly activities to enjoy.
When Camp Good Days was first established, the goal was to provide children with cancer, ages 8-17, with a one-week retreat away from the hospital with other children experiencing the same challenges. As the needs of this population grew, so did Camp Good Days; setting up offices across Western and Upstate New York to provide year-round activities and support to children with cancer of all ages and their families.
The purpose of this reunion is to reconnect volunteers with campers, former and current, and provide them an opportunity to bond, share stories, and a sense of unity and hope.
“In 1979, a nine-year-old girl from Rochester, NY was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Her father didn’t want to see his little girl fight alone,” started Lisa Booz, Regional Director of Camp Good Days, “Camp Good Days was a gift to her and now, 40 years later, that gift is still giving. Our reunion weekend will bring together alumni campers as well as generations of volunteers to meet again and share memories of courage, hope, triumph and loss.”
MORE ABOUT CAMP GOOD DAYS AND SPECIAL TIMES
Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer through summer camping experiences and year-round events and activities. Camp Good Days was founded 38 years ago by Gary Mervis to provide a residential camping program for his daughter, Teddi Mervis, and 63 other children with cancer from Upstate New York. It has since grown to become one of the largest organizations of its kind in the world. Camp Good Days was the fourth program of its kind in the country and the first to be started by a layperson. Many of the programs and services started at Camp Good Days have been used as models for cancer treatment centers and organizations throughout the United States and Canada. This summer, over 1,000 children, including children with cancer from several foreign countries, will participate and experienced the magic of Camp Good Days firsthand at our own beautiful Recreational Facility, located on the shores of Keuka Lake. All programs and services at Camp Good Days are offered free of charge for the participants. The Camp Good Days' Headquarters & Volunteer Training Center is located in Mendon, NY. Camp Good Days also maintains offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Ithaca, NY.