Vancouver – The Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia (CPABC) is now accepting applications for the Campership Program, which financially assists individuals with cerebral palsy to attend a special needs camp of their choice in British Columbia. Aside from having to pay expensive camp fees, many kids, teens, or adults could not attend camp without the help of an attendant. The Campership Program addresses this by providing subsidies that cover costs such as partial camp fees, transportation, and attendant fees.
Brynn Chappell is a former recipient of the Campership subsidy, which allowed her to experience her first Easter Seals camp in Squamish. Her mother, Lore Chappell, is extremely grateful for the Campership Program. “It was amazing for her to have the experience to go away. We wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise,” she says.
CPABC Life Without Limits Community Connector Carrie Torrans knows first-hand how impactful summer camps can be. “When I was a child every year I went to Easter Seals Camp Winfield, which made me realize that anything was possible with the right attitude and people to help you. I had the opportunity to come back and work as a camp counsellor which was amazing because I was able to give back and see the difference that camp makes in other kids’ lives, like it had mine. My passion in life is to help other people with disabilities reach their full potential in life.”
Each summer, CPABC helps up to 15 individuals with cerebral palsy to enjoy a vacation of a lifetime. Since 2008, 92 people have benefited from the Campership Program and have enjoyed their summer at a camp of their choice.
The deadline for application is July 1, 2016 and recipients will be notified by July 29, 2016. For more details about the program and the application process, please visit http://www.bccerebralpalsy.com/programs/camperships/.
The Campership Program was made possible by the generous support of the Central Okanagan Foundation, the Mission Community Foundation, and the McAdams Foundation.
