MDA Summer Camp:

Something for Everyone

by Phil Bennett

Every summer since 1955, kids have been granted the opportunity to escape the repetitious hardships of reality and relax among peers at one of MDA’s summer camps, which now number more than 90. To make it even better, campers are able to attend at no cost to themselves or their families. The cost of camp is covered by generous donors all over the country, from individuals who bought an MDA Shamrock or made a Telethon donation, to large corporate sponsors.

I went to MDA summer camp for many years. Whenever my dad picked me up at week’s end, he’d ask me how it was. I just said it was “great,” before turning away and going to sleep (usually it had been a long night).

Here are some more thoughtful answers than mine as to the biggest highlights of this special week.

“The reasons I like MDA camp are: Seeing people that actually see you for who you are, being with people who

are just like you, experiencing things you thought you could never do (i.e., horseback riding), and dancing without worrying if people are laughing at you,” says Olivia

Davis of Castro Valley, Calif., who was the MDA Goodwill Ambassador for Northern California in 2003. Olivia, 17, has congenital muscular dystrophy.

“MDA summer camp allows kids to have the childhood that many of us never are able to Campers can try group activities they’ve never before experience,” says Laura-Beth experienced. Jacquin, 20, of Atlanta, Ga.

The MDA Goodwill Ambassador for West Massachusetts in 2000, Laura-Beth has Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). “I love to watch the other campers enjoy the relaxed, exciting and fun week of camp that everyone deserves to have.”

“The people who go to camp are pretty much amazing,” says Jennifer

Sutton, 16, of McHenry, Ill., who also has FA. “They’re like my second family — I've been going to camp for eight years and I’ve met my best friends there. I can be myself because I know everyone else is going through what I go through.”

John Ryan, 19, of Spring Valley, N.Y., has FA. He says, “Every summer, I look forward to going to camp — it’s definitely the highlight of the year for me. I look forward to seeing all my friends because camp is the only time when we can all hang out together. It’s always so hard to say goodbye to all your friends, but we keep in touch and always look forward to next year.”

“I would have to say it would definitely be people understanding having their toes run over,” says Julie McMillian, 15, of Dacula, Ga., who has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. “Since there are about 100 campers at MDA camp, counselors have gotten used to having their toes smashed.”

At summer camp, rock ‘n’ roll takes on a whole new meaning.