Camp Simcha recently delivered its annual family retreat, providing much-needed respite for families.
The sound of laughter in the air, the whir of helicopter blades overhead, and the magic of seeing parents finally exhale set the scene in the Oxfordshire countryside, as families supported by Camp Simcha came together for its biggest annual summer residential retreat.
126 members from London, Manchester, and Essex were brought together for three days of respite, peer support, and an action-packed programme, with all medical needs catered for.
The retreat kicked off with helicopter flights over the scenic countryside. With feet firmly back on the ground, children and adults alike enjoyed therapeutic animal-time at the petting zoo, followed by a welcome dinner in which the families enjoyed an evening of bingo, the perfect icebreaker for all!
Day two did not disappoint; trips to LEGOLAND Windsor and Thorpe Park with carers, volunteers, and medical experts overseeing the children, while parents enjoyed a trip to Bicester Village or relaxing spa treatment at the hotel. The evening brought a rare opportunity for parents to enjoy ‘dinner for two’, while staff and volunteers supervised the children playing games and arts and craft activities. The red carpet was rolled out on the last day for an Oscar-themed breakfast and awards ceremony.
For Manchester’s Michaela and Ruby Abenson (pictured), seeing both their children being cared for and happy meant they were able to relax. Their five-year-old son, Saul, is currently receiving treatment for leukaemia and has been supported by Camp Simcha for this past year.
Michaela said: “The energy, the joy, the spirit that Camp Simcha creates – it was as though it breathed life into him. Within minutes he was smiling, laughing, exploring, and playing. For the next two and a half days, he was filled with a kind of energy we hadn’t seen in months. It was the opposite to what we had been watching for last eight months in hospital, instead of draining his life, retreat poured life back into him.”
