Sister, after she's an A.H.S. grad, to work there

It was a shock to Lauren Donnellan, a senior about to graduate from Arlington High School, and her entire family when her little sister Jacqueline was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when Lauren was in fourth grade. Between doctors' appointments and treatments, their family heard of a camp Jacqueline could attend. Nestled in rural Ashford., Conn., far from paved roads and civilization, is a safe haven for children to find peace and calm. 

Kids who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses or who have overcome them, come to this camp to find hope and a reason to keep fighting. Hole in the Wall Gang Camp -- see www.holeinthewallgang.org -- was founded by actor/director Paul Newman, and initially funded by a $5 million gift from Khaled Alhegelan of Saudi Arabia.

The camp runs on donations, and uses its funds to send hundreds of kids and their siblings to their summer sessions, free of charge. Along with summer sessions, for hospitalized children who can't physically make it to the camp, "Camp-In-a-Suitcase" visits them, to provide assurance and support at their hospital bed. 

Since the camp is free, not everyone who applies may be accepted. To be accepted, the child must fill out an application, as well as be between 7 to 15 years old, have a diagnosis of cancer, HIV/AIDS, or a serious blood disease, live in the New England/New York/New Jersey area, and be medically unable to attend any other camp.

If the child has a unique medical condition, the camp can be contacted to find out if the child can apply. The camp has nine sessions during the summer, some of which are "general," and some of which are for specific diseases. Each session is a week long and campers may only attend one.

"We first learned about HITW at the Jimmy Fund Clinic, where my sister was under treatment. Before Jacqueline applied to be a summer camper, we stayed at the camp for a family weekend for free, which was great. We met other families who were in the same situation, and had a great time at camp, enough so that Jacqueline felt comfortable enough to think about being an overnight camper on her own during the next summer," Lauren said.

"Jacqueline, just like the thousands of campers who had been through the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, got to escape from the normal routine of hospital stays, chemotherapy, and transfusions," she explained.

At the camp, it doesn't matter to the kids who has hair and who doesn't. They all come together and create a space safe for everybody to be who they are, sick or not.

Jacqueline loved the family weekend, so she decided to attend a summer session. Jacqueline was able to fit in with these kids who were just as sick as her, and she loved it so much that Lauren decided to apply to be a Leader In Training (LIT).

"The program involves staying at camp and working with campers in their cabins and at program areas while simultaneously completing a leadership program," she said.

This summer, she will be working as a LIT II, where she will spend more than two weeks at the camp, working in a cabin as a leader, as well as overseeing a program area.

The average day at the camp is very busy.

The campers have morning activities and afternoon activities that consist of crafts, theater, and swimming in the lake, as well as a campwide activity in the evening, followed by a campfire. They also have all of their daily meals and some down time in the morning.

"In the past, campers have met Paul Newman himself, who is known for sliding into the dining hall door and sitting down with campers for lunch," she said.

The campers also usually get to do other exciting things, such as watch a sneak-preview of movies such as "Spy Kids," or meeting the cast and seeing a special performance of Disney's High School Musical, or even meeting race car drivers. Kids have even got to go on hot-air balloons, and have had visits from various circus groups.

While a medical center at the camp is a necessity, they avoid the average hospital experience as much as possible. The medical center is called the OK Coral, and designed to look like a 19th-century mill. The camp has a field where a helicopter can land in case of an emergency, each cabin is equipped with a golf cart for emergency transportation, and there are ramps everywhere for handicap access.

"For councilors, the camp is just as rewarding because they get to provide that experience for the campers and see the results of their hard work and effort in the smiles and laughter of the brave children who face life-threatening illnesses. I remember all of the campers I worked with for different reasons. The children amazed me with their stamina, energy, bravery, and big smiles."

Anybody interested in this camp can go to www.holeinthewallgang.org for more information as well as the application.

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