Our goal for this
initiative is
$150,000

so far...
Total Amount Donated:
$54,334.87

It costs $2,000 to send a family to Camp Sunshine. Please set your goal in $2,000 increments

Family Letter

Dear New Balance Foundation,

We are so thankful for your support to Camp Sunshine and for allowing our family to come and heal from our journey with cancer.

My daughter, Joli, was diagnosed with cancer at age 2 - one month after her 2nd birthday. We were completely surprised by this diagnosis, and had even just planned on a "fun day" in the city after her doctor's appointment. Needless to day, the "fun day" turned into a cancer diagnosis, an emergency enucelation (removal) of her right eye, and the change in our lives forever. My seemingly healthy daughter - my 2 year-old - had cancer.

Family

Joli's little body endured six months of aggressive chemotherapy. She survived, and we are so thankful. Joli was fitted with a prosthetic eye, her hair grew back, and she has developed into a strong little girl.

Camp Sunshine is a place where we can feel "normal" for a week - a feeling we often take for granted. For one week out of the year, Joli feels like every other kid because, at camp, every kid is a survivor of retinoblastoma (eye cancer). At camp, Joli doesn't have to hear kids tease her. At camp, Joli doesn't have to see people point and stare. As a parent, I know that those taunts make Joli stronger in the real world, but the truth is, I wish we could always be at Camp Sunshine, surrounded by people who see Joli for who she is - a beautiful, strong, courageous 4 year-old girl.

Because of your donation, Joli experiences pure joy for the one special week. I have never seen the smile as big on her face as I see at Camp Sunshine! And, as a parent, that is the greatest gift I could ever receive!

Camp Sunshine is one of the only programs out there that treats our entire family. Camp is as therapeutic for our entire family as it is for joli. It is the confidence we gain at Camp Sunshine that carries us through the year. When Joli has a bad day at pre-school or just feels like she is so sad for only having one eye, we sit and talk about her favorite memories of Camp, look through her camp scrapbook, or watch videos from Camp. She smiles. She laughs. She feels better.

That is Camp Sunshine.

Your generous sponsorship paid for my child's experience with courage, with self confidence, and with a joy that sustains her. Thank you, New Balance!

With great thanks,
Liza, Jorge, Joli (age 4), and Jada (age 2) Vega