The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta's Camp Kindle at Water Valley got a major boost last month with an $875,000 gift from three cancer agencies.The gift comes on top of the $5 million donated to date by Albertans toward the Kids Cancer Care's Camp Kindle Capital Campaign project's $8-million fundraising target.The gifted money ñ from Kids with Cancer Society, the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division ñ will be put 100 per cent towards renovations and upgrades to the Water Valley campground, officials said.ìWe knew we were going to need a big facility,î said Christine McIver, founder and chief executive officer with Kids Cancer Care. ìA lot of this one was rundown and tired buildings. We knew we had to rebuild, demolish and reconstruct, and add a lot more different elements.ìIt was a gift, from many cancer agencies to another,î McIver added. ìWe're the first camp of this nature in the province. They don't run camp programs, so they gave us the funds so that other kids in their programs can come to our camp and put the money to really good use.ìWe wanted to put into light that this was about other societies wanting to support this camp and that the focus was on the collaboration.îThe Camp Kindle construction project began in early fall of this year.ìWe're currently in the middle of month two of our building project, to be completed in June 2012,î said McIver. ìThe weather has been co-operating and the new infrastructure is in. It'll be a really incredible showpiece when it is completed.îWork and funds will be going into a new pool, upgrades to several older buildings, and the camp roadways and infrastructure, the last of which is now complete.Other camp-savvy utilities, such as a ropes course, double zip line and climbing wall, were also recently installed, and buildings that will act as the medical centre, camper dorms and main lodge will be entirely rebuilt before the June 2012 due date.ìThe camp is important for children and families who are going through the journey of childhood cancer,î McIver explained. ìWe want them to recover in a safe setting, with individual attention and medical care to the child while also enjoying the experience of a normal camp. Here they are not alone and can meet and make new friends and siblings can come with them.ìMom and dad can rest easy at home knowing their child is having fun and is getting great attention,î McIver added. ìIt gives them a bit of respite, as they and their child have been through the fight of a lifetime.îUpdates and ways to support the Camp Kindle project can be found online through their website at kidscancercare.ab.ca
