Camp Circle O' Friends: Bringing Hope To Children And Families

Cancer is a devastating illness that can take its toll on families. And when the patients are young children, aside from suffering the pain that comes with cancer, many have less of a chance to be the children they ought to be because the illness makes them more fragile. But even kids with cancer should have time to play and enjoy themselves, according to Ann Schulman, an oncology nurse and visionary of Camp Circle O' Friends.

And that is the very reason Camp Circle O' Friends has been around since 1987 - to provide children with cancer, as well as their brothers and sisters, the chance to experience the fun of a summer camp. With kids at camp, parents can get a well-deserved break to recuperate without having to worry that their children aren't well cared for.

Image source: campcircleoffriends.com

Located along the shores of Last Mountain Lake's Arlington Beach, the camp is a safe place where the children whose lives have been affected by cancer can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities like crafting, sports, sing-a-longs, and variety shows. It's also a great place to commune with nature where kids can forget their worries and just enjoy the outdoors.

That said, to make sure that the children are in good condition, especially those who have cancer, Camp Circle O' Friends has a dedicated medical team who have the skills to attend to the campers' medical needs. Additionally, lots of volunteers serve as camp staff to help out in ensuring that the camp experience is safe and fun.

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Camp Circle O' Friends aims to be a respite for families touched by cancer so that members can enjoy themselves and experience some moments of normalcy amidst the challenges of cancer.

Jay Blackmore is a committed member of the Canadian Progress Club which holds Camp Circle O' Friends every summer for children afflicted with cancer. Subscribe to this blog for articles on volunteerism and community development.

Heartwarming Stories From Athletes Who Joined The Special Olympics

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The Special Olympics is a grand sporting event for over thousands of athletes around the world who have intellectual disabilities, including Down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. Participants can exhibit their athletic prowess in 25 events such as triathlon, speed skating, football, and judo. Just like every sporting spectacle, it is a place for inspiring stories. Here are some of the Special Olympics’ most inspiring athletes:

Tim Harris: President Barack Obama’s encourager

At a White House event, President Obama gave a shout-out to the multi-talented athlete. The basketball, volleyball, poly hockey, and track and field player is also an entrepreneur. Upon hearing his name, Tim went up the stage and hugged the president. The president commended that just like everyone else, he also needed a hug from a great guy like Tim.

Chelsea Werner: The gymnast who would not give up

As a child, Chelsea had low muscle tone and was immobile until she was four. Gymnastics became a way to strengthen her body. When she decided to compete, she was usually placed at the bottom. Even worse, the Special Olympics Committee of Northern California closed down its gymnastics program. This meant training on her own for 16 hours a week before she began winning national titles and dominating her solo event at the Special Olympics.

Jamaal Charles: An American football legend in the making

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The Kansas City Chiefs running back discovered his talent when he joined the Special Olympics at age 10. Suffering from a learning disability, he proved people that he could go the distance by participating at a track and field event that gave him his first gold medal. His time at the Special Olympics gave him confidence and encouraged him to pursue what he’s excellent in.

The Special Olympics is an example that disabilities are not a hindrance to success. These inspiring people are continuing to change the world with their passion and dedication.

Jay Blackmore is the COO of Park Capital Management. As a philanthropist, he is also invested in making the community a better place through the Regina Canada Progress Club, which supports the Special Olympics. Follow Twitter account for similar updates.

Two Surprising Benefits Of Charitable Giving

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There is more to charitable giving than helping people. This is the most important reason one should volunteer one’s time or resources; however, researchers have found some other surprising benefits to charitable giving. Two of them are listed below.

The relationship between taxes and charity: Many corporations have a philanthropic arm. The various charities that they donate to are dependent on the long- and short-term goals of the executives. There is also a tax benefit to giving. Government offices encourage more companies to donate to charity by providing tax benefits. This is a win-win situation for enterprises; not only are they helping other people but are also effectively augmenting their revenue stream as well. Furthermore, charity giving boosts marketing activities of the company. Recipients of these funds usually provide free advertising for the company.

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Donors are happier and healthier: Perhaps this is not so surprising, but the extent of overall wellness has never been fully appreciated. Those who continually (and sincerely) donate to charity report higher feelings of contentment and satisfaction in life. In turn, they are more engaged in their families and other interpersonal relationships. The simple act of giving impacts a small community through a single individual.

These benefits should encourage both individuals and companies to spend more time in their local charities. It is extending help to the community, which also has personal benefits. More research is necessary, but authors of these studies conclude that altruism is a powerful characteristic and improves mental and emotional health.

Jay Blackmore believes in helping his community, being part of several charitable organizations. More on charitable giving here.

Interesting facts about Bicycles for Humanity

Bicycles are probably the most popular and practical vehicles in the world. They are simple machines and cost nothing more than human will and effort to run. Bicycles can transport people and objects farther, faster. This is what the organization Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) understands. And this is the focal point of their drive. 

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Bicycles for Humanity knows that in parts of the world hit by poverty, people usually carry their necessities, such as sacks of rice and containers of water, on their backs, and children often walk kilometers to school. B4H realizes that providing all these people with bicycles can significantly change their lives. 

B4H aims to distribute bicycles to developing countries such as Karamoja, Uganda, South Africa, and Namibia. But not only does B4H distribute bicycles, the organization also teaches people in these countries the necessary skills and strategies on creating and managing bike programs. The aim of these programs is to optimize the use of bicycles. 

More than 50 chapters have been set up in eight countries over the past 12 years by B4H members. Today, around 200 Bicycle Empowerment Centers exist in more than 10 countries. Over the past decade, over 120,000 bicycles have been given to people who need them, and hundreds upon hundreds of individuals have been trained to run community bicycle initiatives. 

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Jay Blackmore is part of the Canadian Progress Club in the city of Regina. He is also the president of the Saskatchewan chapter for Bicycles for Humanity. Learn more about Jay Blackmore and his community-improvement projects by visiting this website.

Heart Strong: Fun Facts About The Special Olympics

The Special Olympics have been around for a long time – almost six decades in fact. It has become a rallying cry for people of all walks of life, uniting in an organization volunteers and supporters. On the surface, the Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities a chance to let loose and engage in friendly competition. But underneath, it is so much more. Here are few fun facts about the Special Olympics:

 Image source: ocps.net

i) The International Olympic Committee doesn’t allow any other organization to use the word Olympics, except for the Special Olympics.

ii) Over 4 million people from over 170 countries participate in the Special Olympics.

iii) While there is one major event, the Special Olympics is connected to over 90,000 other events globally.

 Image source: soiowa.org

iv) The Summer Olympics actually started out as a summer day camp in the home of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The first event included garden variety morning exercises. There were around 50 people who volunteered for this day camp. Today, there are more than a million volunteers helping out the Special Olympics in over 220 sites where the games are held.

v) Special Olympics participants can be as young as eight years old. There is however, a Special Olympics Young Athletes program, where kids as young as two years of age can participate.

vi) Football and basketball are the most popular sports in the Special Olympics.

Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. -- The Special Olympics Oath

Jay Blackmore is an active participant in the projects of the Canadian Progress Club in the city of Regina. One of the organization’s projects is assisting in the Special Olympics in Canada. Discover more about Jay Blackmore and the Special Olympics by subscribing to this Twitter account.