'Until there's a cure, there's a camp'
Brian Walker | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 5 months AGO
<p>Seth Lowman navigates the high ropes course at Camp Goodtimes Wednesday afternoon. Lowman has been blind since infancy and made it across the ropes course using only his four remaining senses and some minimal help from volunteers.</p>
<p>Ruth Seignemartin, volunteer director of nursing at Camp Goodtimes, assists Elaina, 10, left, and Benjamin Nixon, 7, with a medical procedure for their cystic fibrosis. The brother and sister were both diagnosed with CF during infancy.</p>
<p>Elaina Nixon, 10, inhales through her nebulizer in the medical cabin at Camp Goodtimes Wednesday.</p>
<p>During free time at Camp Goodtimes Wednesday afternoon Abrian Wheeler, 11, climbs out of the cool waters of the Spokane River.</p>
POST FALLS - Seth Lowman reached new heights on Wednesday.
The Coeur d'Alene 15-year-old is battling cancer and blind, but he was able to put those conditions aside while traversing a high-rope challenge course at Camp Goodtimes at the Ross Point Bible Camp along the Spokane River.
"Hey, did I just go back to where I was before?" Lowman said to other campers after completing the course and seemingly surprised he made it back to the starting point so soon.
At one point, Lowman overcame fear of leaping from one platform to another, which drew applause from helpers and other kids with cancer.
"This challenges you to go a step beyond your comfort zone," said Camp Director Kari "Kool" Allen, referring to how the activity helps those with cancer.
The American Cancer Society's Camp Goodtimes has been offered for kids with cancer from throughout the region for the past 28 years. Since it moved to the Ross Point camp in 2005, it has served 1,114 campers and their buddies. This year's camp has 139 kids with cancer and 84 volunteers. The number of campers has gradually risen each year and is up from 78 nine years ago.
However, the popular camp is now in limbo since the ACS announced that it will transition out of camps to focus more on research.
"These decisions in no way suggest these programs have not been valuable," an ACS letter to camp families states. "However, we know that patients, families, partners and those who invest in our mission are relying on us to do everything we can to finish the fight against cancer and save more lives."
Allen, an ACS employee whose job will end after she finishes up the details of this week's camp, said there's a loose-knit group, including some current camp volunteers, who vow to not let the camp end. She said the ACS's Great West Division, based in Spokane, has been helpful in the transition.
Ruth "Rowdy" Seignemartin, the camp's volunteer director of nursing, said the new group wants to keep camp as is, including having Allen as the lone paid staffer and having a volunteer medical crew on site. The plan is to raise funds once the dust settles from the transition, she said.
Camper Elaina Nixon, 10, Spokane, said she hopes she'll be able to come back next year.
"Just being here is really cool," she said while taking break from a game. "There's other kids with cancer here who have been what I've been through. I can relate to them."
Activities also include archery, swimming, a cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene and arts and crafts. Agencies also get involved. The Border Patrol on Wednesday provided a helicopter demonstration and had hands-on stations.
Seignemartin said the camp gives both campers and their families a break from the grueling routine of battling cancer.
Some of the campers, such as Allison "Snick" Hahn, later become camp volunteers as survivors. It's an accomplishment that gives the youngsters battling cancer hope.
"I came to camp in the middle of treatment, and it was a place I could come to be a kid," Hahn said. "It was a break, and you lived in the moment. This camp is vital to these kids."
Allen is confident the camp will continue.
"We will be here next year," she said. "Until there's a cure, there's a camp."
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