Camp Kesem

"Children with a parent affected by cancer often have complex home situations unbeknownst to their peers and other prominent adults in their lives." - Ian "Goosebumps" Anstee  

Children with a Parent Affected by Cancer Get Support at Camp Kesem

Camp Kesem at Stanford provides a weeklong camp and year-round community for children who have a parent who is currently in treatment for cancer, is in remission from cancer, or who has died from cancer. Children have the unique opportunity to build friendships and gain strength from peers facing similar challenges.

Children with a parent affected by cancer often have complex home situations unbeknownst to their peers and other prominent adults in their lives. The turbulent emotions children experience can go unnoticed outside of the family because they are neither physically ill nor visibly distinct from their peers. It is often challenging for these children to find individuals with whom they can relate, resulting in feelings of isolation, anger, guilt, and fear and putting them at risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other stress-related disorders. Cancer creates a financial strain on all families it touches, one that is especially felt by disadvantaged communities. For this reason, Kesem's services are provided at no cost to families.

Children leave the week of camp feeling more connected and confident. Camp Kesem at Stanford introduces children struggling with a parent's cancer, sometimes for the first time, to peers who share that experience. Children leave camp feeling better understood and better equipped to take on challenges at home.

To learn how to register your child for Camp Kesem at Stanford, visit our website at www.campkesemstanford.org or contact families@campkesemstanford.org. To support Camp Kesem at Stanford's mission, visit www.campkesemstanford.org/donate or contact director@campkesemstanford.org