20 years of joy and laughter... and we're just getting started
By Dee Ahearn, CEO, Barretstown
In the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains in County Kildare, Ireland, there's a bit of magic beyond the red doors of Barretstown Castle. Magic that has helped more than 27,500 children who are coping with serious illnesses – and their families – experience care, laughter and joy to aid their healing process.
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Barretstown. As I look back, I'm amazed to see how far we've come as an organization. Not only have we grown our capacity to serve children with cancer and serious blood diseases, but we have also increased the variety of services we extend to families, including bereavement weekends, family and sibling camps, and our hospital outreach program.
When Barretstown first opened in 1994, nobody was certain if children and teenagers would even take to the experience. The idea of singing camp songs, dressing up in costume and wearing silly hats may have seemed a bit odd. But as the first few days of camp kicked off, the children began to warm to their surroundings, and the wonder of the experience quickly took over. Children who were quiet the first day were dancing, singing and connecting to a sense of joy and laughter they had been missing while going through cancer treatments in the months before camp.
After experiencing that first week of camp, a volunteer doctor recalled his amazement at the transformation of the children: "Before they left, I saw a sparkle in their eyes, a radiance in their voices, that was barely present on day one." This doctor, Dr. Paul M. Zeltzer, a neuro-oncologist from the U.S., further explained, "They can do this because of the community that is Barretstown."
The transformation that Dr. Zeltzer witnessed was exactly what our founder, Paul Newman, knew would happen. He had created the same special blend of care and fun at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut years before and had seen the change that comes with serious fun.
Today, that powerful feeling of community at Barretstown continues to help rebuild the lives of children affected by serious illnesses and their families all across Europe. More than 2,500 campers experience the magic behind Barretstown Castle's doors each year.
As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect not only on the bold vision of Paul Newman, but on the thousands upon thousands of dedicated and generous people and organizations over the years who have made the experience of Barretstown possible. We are grateful to all who have volunteered as a cara (counselor) or medical staff, run a charity race on our behalf, or selflessly made a contribution to support a child attending camp.
We are celebrating 20 years of magic, indeed... but we're just getting started!
To mark its 20th Anniversary, Barretstown has released a special video featuring the song, "Dream Baby Dream," made famous by Bruce Springsteen. The performance features dozens of current and former Barretstown campers and is led by Joyce Murphy, who attended a Barretstown camp after her sister Rachel died of cancer in 2004. They are assisted by the Christ Church Cathedral Girls Choir and a number of other well-known musicians including Tom Dunne, Mundy and Steve Wall. Check it out!
To learn more about Barretstown, the SeriousFun Camp in Ireland, please visit http://www.barretstown.org/.