Camp Simcha’s annual Children’s Retreat is an eagerly anticipated event for so many of the families the charity supports.

For the children with serious health conditions, it provides four joy-filled, activity-packed days away from hospitals and treatments and for their parents it provides critical respite. But no child could have been happier to be there this year than seven-year-old Amelia Leigh, who had been in hospital up until just a few hours before the coach left for retreat.

Her condition, colonic dysmotility with a stoma fitted and immune deficiency, puts her more at risk of catching a virus or an infection – and when she does her body goes into panic and she often ends up in hospital.

“She had been in hospital three times in three weeks, and the week before retreat was by far the worst,” explained her mum Ilana. “She went in the Sunday before but her body just could not get back to normal and wasn’t retaining any fluids – and it got to the day before and she got worse.

“Amelia misses out on so much because of her condition and she had been looking forward to this for so long.

“We had been talking to the doctors and nurses and many of them know Camp Simcha. Everyone was rooting for her but there was nothing they could do except hope that her body would start retaining the fluids and nutrients it was being given.

“Miraculously on Wednesday night her body stopped pushing the fluids out; Thursday morning rolled round and the nurse dragged a doctor in the room to get her discharged at about 9am.

“She came home, showered and packed and was literally waiting by the door ready to leave.

“I wouldn’t have sent her anywhere else; if it had been with school or a friend I would not have allowed it, but I did because it was Camp Simcha and we trust them so implicitly and we know they give the most phenomenal care – not just the doctor and nurse on site but just incredible love, attention and care that is thrown at all of us whenever we do anything with Camp Simcha.

“It was better than any medicine I could have given her at home. She went and she just lived her best life and it was just wonderful. I felt so emotional when she left because she so nearly didn’t make it and that would have been just another disappointment. But for once she got where she wanted to be.”

Amelia was one of 27 seriously ill children who joined the retreat in Northampton, experiencing four days of unadulterated fun and peer support, providing the entire family with a rare opportunity for respite.

Activities included themed arts and crafts, bag-printing, archery and climbing, a drumming workshop, Build-a-bear, a glow party, talent competition and concert.

Ranging in age from seven to 18 years the children each had a dedicated volunteer, along with Camp Simcha staff, a doctor and nurse, and carers on site, ensuring parents could enjoy a true break knowing their children were in safe hands.

Ilana explained: “Amelia loved the freedom and the fun and having that one to one attention that is not linked to something medical, not linked to pain or negativity or medication, cannulas, blood tests. Camp Simcha just can’t do enough for these children.

“She was excited to see old friends and to make new friends, but you can’t quantify how much it meant that she could actually go. It just made her world. She sat on the coach and she waved and the smile she was giving me… I just felt all was right in the world and that in turn just made me feel calm and at peace.”

Camp Simcha supports 1,700 family members each year through a bespoke package of care which also includes therapeutic arts, sibling groups, retreats, volunteers and counselling – ensuring Camp Simcha is there for parents, children dealing with serious illness and their siblings whenever they need.