Young people living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses just want to get back to being kids.
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Country Hope allows them to do that through its annual Time Out for Life camp.
Volunteers like Wodonga’s Nathan Wimhurst are there for the kids with cancer and their siblings, to take their minds off illness and instead focus on having fun.
“It gives families a bit of a break from the stress of treatment and it’s a fun weekend away where the kids get a smile on their face, and stop worrying about being in hospital,” he said.
“We’re there for them, not just during the week of the camp, but when they need us.
“We might go around on the weekends and help with basic chores, or go to the hospital, and it becomes a friendship.
“We’ve got kids who were in the camp and have now become carers.”
Country Hope, a Wagga-based organisation that covers the Border, began with 30 families and now supports 155.
Nikki Grae, who manages the Border catchment, said the organisation relied on the generosity of volunteers like Mr Wimhurst, and there was a need this year for more male carers.
“We have very few male carers and it’s really important for our younger boys to have that male role model and carer while they’re on the camp,” she said.
“We’re really looking for people to be carers in this area, we have very few at the moment unfortunately.
“Our carers love coming back.”
The annual camp will take place this year in September at Borambola, near Wagga.
For information about becoming a carer, go to www.countryhope.com.au.