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Lombard, IL —
Local children with cancer spent the week delighting in the color and energy of the circus, which was the theme for the 28th annual TLC Camp that began Monday and wraps up today in Lombard.
The weeklong TLC Camp was started in 1983 to allow children with cancer to experience a safe, active environment and what organizers called “a normal day at camp.” Created and sponsored by members of the Lombard Junior Women’s Club, the annual camp is funded solely through donations and staffed entirely by volunteers.
“We try to get as many kids in the area as possible,” said Terri Soehrmann, one of the camp’s directors. “We want them to run and play and just not think about doctors for the week.”
More than 80 campers showed up Monday morning to kick off the camp with a circus-themed parade.
“We’re doing really well already,” camp director Margie Nilsen said Monday.
Campers came from across the state, and one family even traveled from Tennessee.
Before this year’s event, themed “Under the Big Top,” organizers gave brochures to all local hospitals, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The free camp draws children ages 5 to 13 with cancer, who each are allowed to bring along a sibling.
“It costs about $40,000 for the entire week with everything,” Nilsen said. “It’s all done through donations.”
Camp directors begin planning the summer festivities about a year ahead of time. The majority of activities take place at the Lombard Park District’s Sunset Knoll Recreation Center, but children also took field trips this week to local attractions including Odyssey Fun World, Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles and Lombard’s Paradise Bay Water Park.
For many campers, the highlight of the week was Wednesday’s carnival, which featured clowns, a stilt-walker, balloon artists, and countless circus games and activities.
“We couldn’t do this all without the Lombard Park District and various organizations,” Soehrmann said.
The camp typically draws 80 to 100 campers every year, in addition to more than 80 staff members including counselors, counselors in training, junior counselors, senior counselors, paramedics and nursing staff. There is also a medical director on-call.
“It’s pretty close to a one-to-one ratio of counselor to camper,” Nilsen said.
According to the directors, counselors, ages 15 to 30, play a major role in the success of the camp.
“If an event gets canceled due to the weather, they’re ready with a deck of cards in their backpacks or a marker to draw tattoos,” Nilsen said.
Local children with cancer spent the week delighting in the color and energy of the circus, which was the theme for the 28th annual TLC Camp that began Monday and wraps up today in Lombard.
The weeklong TLC Camp was started in 1983 to allow children with cancer to experience a safe, active environment and what organizers called “a normal day at camp.” Created and sponsored by members of the Lombard Junior Women’s Club, the annual camp is funded solely through donations and staffed entirely by volunteers.
“We try to get as many kids in the area as possible,” said Terri Soehrmann, one of the camp’s directors. “We want them to run and play and just not think about doctors for the week.”
More than 80 campers showed up Monday morning to kick off the camp with a circus-themed parade.
“We’re doing really well already,” camp director Margie Nilsen said Monday.
Campers came from across the state, and one family even traveled from Tennessee.
Before this year’s event, themed “Under the Big Top,” organizers gave brochures to all local hospitals, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The free camp draws children ages 5 to 13 with cancer, who each are allowed to bring along a sibling.
“It costs about $40,000 for the entire week with everything,” Nilsen said. “It’s all done through donations.”
Camp directors begin planning the summer festivities about a year ahead of time. The majority of activities take place at the Lombard Park District’s Sunset Knoll Recreation Center, but children also took field trips this week to local attractions including Odyssey Fun World, Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles and Lombard’s Paradise Bay Water Park.
For many campers, the highlight of the week was Wednesday’s carnival, which featured clowns, a stilt-walker, balloon artists, and countless circus games and activities.
“We couldn’t do this all without the Lombard Park District and various organizations,” Soehrmann said.
The camp typically draws 80 to 100 campers every year, in addition to more than 80 staff members including counselors, counselors in training, junior counselors, senior counselors, paramedics and nursing staff. There is also a medical director on-call.
“It’s pretty close to a one-to-one ratio of counselor to camper,” Nilsen said.
According to the directors, counselors, ages 15 to 30, play a major role in the success of the camp.
“If an event gets canceled due to the weather, they’re ready with a deck of cards in their backpacks or a marker to draw tattoos,” Nilsen said.
One counselor comes from Macomb to participate in the event each year.
“These (people) are the ones that you don’t really hear about that make the camp what it is,” Soehrmann said.
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HAPPY ENDING
After the Spectator posted pictures on our website of TLC Camp’s parade on Monday, one of the camp's directors received a phone call she will never forget.
"A man called from out-of-state and said he saw the web update and photos of TLC on your site," said Barb Finn. "They were closing down a fundraiser in honor of a girl who died from cancer, and wanted to find a fund where they could donate the money to."
Finn said the man told her he simply googled "kids with cancer" and the Spectator’s coverage was the first link to pop up.
"After he asked me a couple questions, he asked where he should send the check to," said Finn, who was still in shock.
Funded solely on donations, the TLC Camp is extremely grateful for the $5,800 check from the man.
