Thank you to the JC for featuring this article.

When a family receives the devastating news of a child’s serious illness, their world shifts in an instant.

The journey ahead is fraught with challenges, not only medical but emotional and practical. Camp Simcha’s mission is to make that journey easier – with a healing recipe of emotional support, practical and therapeutic assistance and above all, an abundance of love.

Love is at the very heart of what Camp Simcha does, wrapping families in a holistic blanket of support tailored to the uniqueness of every child, parent and sibling’s needs.

In addition to vital practical and therapeutic support services, Camp Simcha’s mission is to ensure families experience moments of joy and precious respite from everyday challenges. Imagine the stress and trauma of a child’s medical treatment fading into the background when they soar above the countryside in a helicopter ride at one of the charity’s magical retreats, or parents finding comfort and connection with others who truly understand, during a rejuvenating, family respite weekend.

For siblings it might be the impact of finding their own space to have fun at the charity’s dedicated support groups or enjoying one-on-one adventures with their Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer.  It’s this bespoke support, delivered with ‘love’ which truly makes a difference to families navigating the unthinkable.

One family who understands this better than most is the Shucks from Borehamwood, who have shared their story to launch Camp Simcha’s upcoming ‘Fighting Illness with Love’ campaign on 2-3 March.

The family’s youngest son Zack was just six months old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

After a 10-hour surgery to remove the tumour, he began an 18-month chemotherapy course.

Camp Simcha has been supporting Zack’s family since his surgery – providing practical help such as hospital transports and crisis meals, as well as family support, therapeutic art sessions, residential retreats and outings.

Recalling the terrifying day he had surgery, Zack’s mum Louise, says: “I remember they told my husband and I to say goodbye to him. They said ‘we don’t know if he’s going to come out of this or not’.

“Camp Simcha came into our lives on that same day. Someone in my family called them, and they just turned up with loads of treats and love and a big box of everything we might need at hospital. The connection blossomed from there, really helping us get through those first weeks, sending in food and helping my kids with fun outings and activities for them to do at home with my parents, while we were at the hospital.

“We met our family liaison officer (FLO) shortly after and I remember she came in with this massive smile on her face and gave me a big hug. I just knew that that bond was going to be forever. My children are really, really shy but she made it so easy for them to love her.”

Zack came through the surgery well but three months later scans showed the tumour had returned and so he started a weekly course of chemotherapy.

“It takes a toll on my other children, as well as Zack, who is stuck in a hospital room for four days a week sometimes. My daughter cries a lot; she asks where are you going, mummy? Or please come back mummy because on the day Zack got diagnosed, I dropped the children at school and then didn’t see them for two weeks.”

Camp Simcha arranged therapeutic art sessions for Jake to express his feelings and also a volunteer Big Sister, Ariella.

“Ariella has just changed their lives for the better. She takes them out for pizza, bike rides, and just comes over and does lots of fun things. They actually talk to her about things that they don’t talk to me about. Jake has been doing art with Michelle once a week, and it’s really good for him to have 1:1 as he doesn’t talk about his feelings. She’s helping him more than she knows.

“I don’t think we would have got through this hard time that we all are going through without Camp Simcha in our lives. They have really helped us grow as a family and supported us in every way that we have needed. They have loved us. They have loved my children. They are like a best friend to me.”

The Shucks are among 1,700 family members supported by Camp Simcha annually, providing 25 bespoke support services for families coping with over 50 serious, life-threatening, life-changing and chronic paediatric conditions.