$1-million donation will expand SickKids' summer camp.
Don Cherry with Isaac Schoenhals, 10, a SickKids heart transplant patient and two-time Camp Oki camper, celebrate the recent donation of $1,000,000 by the Firkin Group of Pubs to Camp Oki.
Staff Photo/JUSTIN SKINNER
A generous $1-million donation will ensure that children born with congenital heart disease have opportunities they might otherwise have missed out on.
The Firkin Group of Pubs donated the funds on Thursday, Dec. 16 in support of Camp Oki (www.campoki.ca), SickKids Hospital's summer camp for kids who have had serious heart conditions.
The camp gives those kids a chance to play sports and games, go tubing, enjoy arts and crafts and take part in other fun summer activities many children take for granted.
Dr. Joel Kirsh, a SickKids cardiologist and the founder of Camp Oki, said campers benefit from greater quantity of life thanks to the treatment received in hospital, but a better quality of life thanks to the camp.
"Patients can spend days, weeks and sometimes months here at the hospital and, as a result, miss out on some of the things (other kids) take for granted," he said.
The camp has typically had space for up to 80 children, who could enjoy one-week camp sessions. Because Oki relies on donations and volunteers, the Firkin Group's $1 million will increase capacity.
"The donation will allow us to expand to more weeks and more kids," Kirsh said.
Because Camp Oki campers have specific health care needs and concerns, they are often excluded from many summer camps, which can lead to isolation from their peers and a lack of self-esteem.
Camp Oki camper Joseph Kerby, 13, said those are not a concern at the summer camp devised with children born with congenital heart disease in mind.
"It's awesome because you have a place where everyone is like you, more or less," he said. "Most camps look at (the medical history) we have and say 'no, you can't come here' but at this camp, everyone has that."
By getting kids involved in activities in which they might not otherwise be included, Camp Oki breaks down barriers and removes limitations beyond their control.
With children aged eight to 16 allowed to attend, Camp Oki offers something for everyone.
Larry Isaacs of the Firkin Group of Pubs said the company was thrilled to be able to support the cause because it provided access to kids who might otherwise be excluded and allows them to have fun at a welcoming camp.
He said the Firkin Group was looking for a charitable partner five years ago and, upon learning about Camp Oki and the Cardiac Kids group that supports both the camp and SickKids Foundation, "I knew right away I could report back to my team that we'd found the right partner."
Cardiac Kids co-founder Jeff Neiman said the donation marked a special day for a special place, adding that the gift would allow, "hundreds, if not thousands, of kids to attend the camp."
Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry also attended the donation ceremony and received a Camp Oki cap, which he vowed to wear on Coach's Corner.