FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – During National Burn Awareness Week, February 5-11th, a fire truck relay in the Central Valley is bringing attention to burn survivors.
Seven fire departments participated in the 3rd Annual Central Valley Relay that began in Madera on Wednesday.
Fire fighters then visited Fresno, CHP, Cal Fire/Fresno County, Clovis, Sanger, Fresno County, Reedley and Selma fire departments, collecting donations from emergency responders.
Fresno Fire Deputy Chief Rich Cabral says they raised over 50,000 dollars for the summer Champ Camps.
“They host quite a few kids each summer who have sustained burn types of injuries.” – Rich Cabral, Deputy Fire Chief, Fresno Fire.
The relay ended around noon at Fresno Fire’s headquarters.
A check for $58-thousand dollars was handed over to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, an organization that holds the camp each year and is dedicated to preventing fires, and improving the quality of life for those burn survivors.
One of the relay team members – Clovis Fire fighter and Champ Camp volunteer Andy Isolano (photo: above right) says it really opens up the kids when they walk off the bus and see others in their same situation.
“They get to spend a week with just kids that look like themselves and they don’t get teased, they don’t get bullied.” -Andy Isolano, Clovis Fire Department.
Champ Camp 2017 dates are June 10th-17th
Champ Camp is a week-long, residential summer camp experience for child burn survivors ages 5-17, who have been treated at California hospitals or are current residents of California. Each year, approximately 130 children attend this week long summer camp at Wonder Valley in Sanger, California.
Champ Camp is free to all burn survivors and it is fully staffed by medical doctors, nurses, program staff, volunteers and counselors – many of whom are also burn unit nurses, burn doctors, adult burn survivors and firefighters. Activities at the camp include fishing, horseback riding, crafts, canoeing, archery, water slides, camp fire, a dance, and team building activities. The main focus of camp is for burn survivors to have fun and just be kids away from medical procedures and financial hardships. Camp provides a safe environment where burn survivors can play, learn, grow, gain self-esteem, and make
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