Sunrise Day Camp, the first full-summer day camp in the world for children with cancer and their siblings, opened in 2006 in New York, as a program of the Friedberg Jewish Community Center. Associated with 11 of the most renowned hospitals in the field of pediatric oncology, Sunrise opened its first summer with 106 campers. By the summer of 2008, that number had grown to 266 children.

When a child is stricken with cancer, even something as simple as play time is affected. Weak immune systems prevent these children from playing outside with other children for fear of infection, and frequent hospital visits interrupt the normalcy of childhood. Come to Sunrise, however, and you will find a place where these children can swim, play sports, enjoy music, drama, arts and crafts, and all of the other recreational activities that other children are able to take for granted. In addition to their eight-week summer camp, Sunrise also provides year-round programming on Sundays, plans fun activities for holiday breaks, and even makes sure to include in-hospital visits for all of their children who can’t step outdoors to play.

In the Greater New York area, approximately 550 children are diagnosed with new cases of cancer every year. In the State of Israel, the number is similar, with 450 new cases of pediatric cancer arising annually. The majority of these children are serviced by hospitals in Jerusalem, Haifa, Petach Tikva, and Tel Hashomer. But in the entire state of Israel, as was the case in the United States, no day camp program exists for these children.

There are many extraordinary organizations throughout Israel which offer activities and respite for both children and their families who are dealing with cancer, but almost all of these are week-long overnight programs, and many take place overseas. But for a child who battles homesickness as well as cancer, a child who only feels safe working with a doctor who they know and trust, and the parent who cannot bear the thought of not having their sick child sleeping in his or her own bed every night, these “sleep-away” programs are simply not an option.

The JCC will be partnering with two of the most capable organizations in Israel to put this camp together – Camp Kimama, which has a pristine reputation for summer camping in the Jewish State, and the Even Yehuda Matnas, which boasts a creative, dynamic staff and expansive grounds that will enable us to run year-round holiday and vacation programs. Having obtained the support of Israeli hospitals, medical professionals, and special needs organizations, we are prepared to move ahead and start our activities in 2009 and establish the day camp with year-round programs in 2010 at Neve Hadassah. This full-service, outdoor facility located near Netanya boasts playing fields, a swimming pool, an amphitheatre, and indoor facilities, all in pristine shape, whose grounds we cannot wait to fill with the laughter of children.

And the camp will be free to all who need it! Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child’s chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise-Israel will be offered at no charge to all who need it, as well as to their brothers and sisters. For this summer alone, based on the past numbers of Sunrise Day Camp in America, we estimate the cost of servicing an initial 100 children to be in the range of 2.5 million shekels. How will we make this all happen? Through the generosity of people like yourself.

No child should live in isolation – to not be able to play with a friend or know the sound of laughter on a summer day- because of an illness not of his or her making. Just as the medical professionals treat these children’s illness, it is up to the community to heal their spirits. This is what Sunrise-Israel, with your help, will accomplish.

For more information, please contact Beth Fetner, Vice President of Agency Development, at bfetner@friedbergjcc.org, or 516-766-4341 ext. 166.