Kids, Cancer,
and KesemMarianne Williamson once said, “Children are happy because they don’t have a file in their minds called ‘All the Things that Could Go Wrong.’” Unfortunately, this is not the case for all children. With 1 of every 2-3 Americans facing a cancer diagnosis, a significant percentage of children grow up with the trauma of having a parent who suffers or dies from cancer. You can most likely think of multiple children from our community who have lived this reality. Kesem is a national nonprofit organization that supports children who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer. It is largely led by student volunteers and provides programming throughout the year, along with a week-long summer camp for kids ages 6 through 18. The idea is that it allows campers a time and place to just be kids, while being among others who have or are going through similar challenges. Last year, I became a member of the University of Iowa chapter of Kesem and served as a camp counselor. This year, I am serving as treasurer and am excited to return to camp once again. Many kids also return to camp each year, and attendees frequently become counselors themselves. It is very much like a second family that kids can’t wait to reunite with. Besides the typical camp activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, and crafts, I learned that the Kesem community also has many unique traditions that make it a truly memorable week that really promotes connectedness. Considering the financial burden that often accompanies cancer, Kesem provides the camp experience free of charge. A major part of ensuring that Kesem can continue to do this is meeting fundraising goals. I hope you will explore the Kesem website and consider making a donation to the Iowa chapter via my fundraising page at https://donate.kesem.org/fundraiser/5026698. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Clair Zmolek
Mount Vernon High School Class of 2021