Finding Hope After Loss: CancerCare’s Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp
Earlier this month, CancerCare hosted its 17th Annual Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp for families who recently lost a loved one to cancer in Mount Pocono, PA.
The annual weekend camp welcomed 16 families, including 30 children aged 4 - 15, along with parents, grandparents and other adults, who were able to connect with others who understood each other’s experiences and honored their loved ones through a memorial service and created collages to share their stories. Throughout the weekend, families also took part in horseback riding, fishing, arts and crafts, as well as dancing and karaoke.
“Camp reminds me every year that healing happens through connection — with others who understand, with a caring community and with the support of people willing to walk alongside you on the journey,” said Cecilia Kuepper, LCSW, OSW-C, CancerCare oncology social worker and Healing Hearts Program Coordinator.
Adults also gathered for a resilience panel to hear from others on finding hope after loss. “The panelists generously shared their personal stories of loss, healing and hope, reminding families that while grief changes us, no one has to navigate it alone,” said Cecilia. “Their honesty and courage were incredibly inspiring and showed the many different ways resilience can emerge over time.”
CancerCare is immensely grateful for its staff and volunteers, who helped create a space where families felt welcomed, understood and supported.
CancerCare would also like to thank its sponsors and supporters for making this camp possible, including Eisai, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation’s DeAnna Stark Pasciuto Memorial Fund, Blue Matters Consulting, The Giving Doll Foundation, Light One Little Candle Foundation, Lillian Schenck Foundation and Yolanda Garcia-Corby, LCSW, Bridging Hearts LLC.
Like all of CancerCare's services, the Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp is made available to families completely free of charge. Please consider making a contribution to help support families coping with the loss of a loved one. You can also contact Kathy Nugent at 201-301-6809 or knugent@cancercare.org.