Camp serving kids with serious illnesses celebrates 30 years operating
By David Jones
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EUSTIS, Florida (WESH) — A camp in Lake County serving children with serious illnesses is celebrating 30 years of service and bringing kids together to just be kids.
Camp Boggy Creek, located in the forests northeast of Eustis in Lake County, was founded in 1996 by actor Paul Newman and General Norman Schwarzkopf.
Newman and Schwarzkopf’s families were at camp on Saturday as donors, camp staff, former campers and families came together to mark three decades of providing kids dealing with unimaginable hardships with free opportunities to attend camp, meet other children going through similar situations and share life experiences.
The families of Camp Boggy Creek said they get as much, if not more, out of the experience than the kids who participate.
“The connections that are made are lifelong. It’s just lifelong friendships, they’re accepting,” said Mathew Taylor, whose son has participated in Camp Boggy Creek life.
“You’re safe, respected and loved here. It’s really fun,” his son said.
Since its founding, Camp Boggy Creek has helped more than 90,000 campers.
It’s part of Newman’s “Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” network, and serves as a year-round destination fueled by volunteers and accommodating to kids with a number of different illnesses.
“They can come here and not worry about their illness or what’s going on or not feel like they’re the child who is different in their community or their school,” said camp director Nick Sano. “They get to meet so many other children who understand what they’re going through and feel like their illness is one part of who they are and not making up entirely who they are.”
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