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The Richmond HOPE Foundation, a non-profit organization
that provides scholarship funds for specialized physical therapy
services for children, will be sponsoring Lose the Training
Wheels camp, from July 27 – July 31, 2009, at the University of
Richmond’s Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness. The
program teaches children with disabilities, who are between
the age of 8 and 18 years, how to ride a conventional two-wheel
bicycle and become lifelong independent riders, which helps
provide confidence in other aspects of their lives. The camp can
accommodate forty children and provides two volunteers per
camper.
This is the second year that the Richmond Hope Foundation
has sponsored the Lose the Training Wheels program. In 2008,
36 children participated in the program, which boasted an 85%
success rate of teaching children who previously rode a bike with
training wheels how to ride without training wheels, by the end of
the camp. For many children with disabilities, this is a seemingly
impossible task they can learn and master in less than a week’s
time. Within days of learning to ride, many children exhibit
independent behaviors for the first time ever. This achievement,
in turn, creates a gateway of opportunity, helping them gain
assurance and self-reliance in many other aspects of their lives.
In order to make the camp successful again this year, the
Richmond Hope Foundation needs help from the community.
First, the Foundation needs to find 40 children who qualify
to participate in this exciting opportunity. Secondly, over 70
volunteers are needed to help make this camp possible. And
lastly, the Foundation is in need of donations and sponsorships
for the costs of the camp. To participate, volunteer or donate,
please send an email to hopebikecamp@comcast.net.
For more information on Lose the Training Wheels camp or the
Richmond Hope Foundation, visit www.lostthetrainingwheels.
org or www.richmondhopefoundation.org.
Comfort Zone Camp is the nation’s largest bereavement camp
for children, ages 7-17, who have experienced the death of a
parent, sibling or primary caregiver. The camps, which are held
year-round in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and here
in Richmond, provide an environment where grieving children
can have fun and break the isolation death often brings, while
learning valuable coping skills for their daily lives in a safe and
healing camp environment. Comfort Zone also hosts support
groups for adults and children throughout the year, providing
a network of support for the whole family. All Comfort Zone
Camp services are free of charge due to generous donations
from individuals, corporations, civic organizations and grants.
Comfort Zone Camp is set in a rustic camp environment
to get kids away from the distractions of the real world and
create what is called the “camp bubble.” Within the camp
bubble, kids are given the opportunity to share stories and
feelings, receive validation from peers regarding what he/she is
thinking and feeling, say goodbye and remember loved ones,
build trust and friendships, and play, have fun and just be a kid
while receiving the tools to help him/her after camp. All of this
leads to an increase in self-esteem.
A parents’ meeting is held at the beginning and end of camp,
where the Healing Circle Leaders can answer parents’ griefrelated
questions. Leaders are also available to discuss your
child’s camp experience.
Kids leave camp with lasting friendships and the support of
the Comfort Zone Camp community, which will be there for
them year after year. Local Comfort Zone Support Groups are
also available. Campers can return to camp each year until they
graduate from high school, and once a camper turns fifteen, he/
she also becomes eligible to volunteer as a Junior Counselor.
For more information, visit www.comfortzonecamp.org/
locations/virginia.
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