The three-day retreat in Warwickshire welcomed nearly 200 Camp Simcha family members from London, Manchester and Gateshead, providing a desperately needed break from their usual routines of medical appointments and treatments.
With Camp Simcha staff, dedicated volunteers and an expert medical team watching over all the children, families returned from the retreat feeling stronger and more positive.
Deena Manson from North Manchester whose daughter Basya, 11, has two very rare kidney diseases, explains: “We are in hospital very regularly because my daughter needs treatment every two weeks, so just to get away from all that for a few days made an unimaginable difference to us.
“Understandably Basya gets more of my time and attention but at Camp Simcha every single one of my six children is made to feel special, with each having their own amazing volunteer.
“We have been to retreat before and so the children were all counting down to it especially my two youngest ones.
“It’s also such a break for my husband Dovid and I – especially the dinner for two on the first night. Then on the Friday I got to have my nails done, I did some art and I also spoke to the therapist. I hardly ever have a day that is just for me and I felt so rejuvenated from it.
“I went into hospital with Basya the week after we came back, feeling refreshed and ready to get on with it and I think that really came from the conversations I had with the therapist and with Rachely [Camp Simcha Head of Family Liaison]; they built me up and made me stronger.
“The other wonderful thing about retreat is the friendships we have made with people who are going through something similar. We keep in touch throughout the year, not just when we see each other at Camp Simcha events. Having that community of people who can totally relate to what you are going through is so important.”
Even when one child wasn’t well enough to join the fun downstairs, Camp Simcha took the party to their room. Family liaison officer (FLO) Natalie who attended Shabbat Retreat explained the joy this brought to the entire family.
“Our families look forward to our retreats for months beforehand, so it was heart-breaking for this child and their parents that they were unable to join in.
“At the Saturday evening concert, where families were delighted by the surprise appearance of singer Shloime Gertner, he heard the child was unwell and went up to give the family a special performance in their room. It really lifted their spirits and was all incredibly special.”
In the past 12 months some 400 Camp Simcha family members attended one of the charity’s residential retreats, providing a critical emotional lifeline to families facing the daily challenges of serious paediatric illness.
