Our journey down the road of childhood cancer began in April 1991 when Clair, at the age of four and a half, was diagnosed with Leukaemia (ALL). Clair has Down Syndrome and a heart condition - both the disability and the cardiac condition were obstacles in her chemotherapy régime. At different times during treatment Clair suffered seizures, allergic reactions, was in a coma for several days plus all the other fun stuff like muscle wasting, nausea, loss of hair and appetite, mouth ulcers, etc., etc. etc. It is a journey you would not wish on your worst enemy and as a parent you feel so helpless as there is absolutely nothing you can do to help your child.

We were introduced to the concept of Camp Quality about eighteen months into Clair's treatment.  At the time we were living on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Clair was never well enough to attend camp when she was having treatment (her mother was never game enough to let her go to camp) but we did accept an invitation to a family camp towards the end of her treatment (approx. May '93).  We were all ready to go then three days before camp, Clair got chicken pox so that was the end of that.  Some friends went in our place and took Clair's brother Matt with them, the CQ journey had begun.

We moved to Brisbane in June 1994 and attended our first Bribie Island Christmas Party in November 1994.  Clair attended her first camp at Duckadang in April '95 when she was nine years old. Camp very quickly became a big part of her life, she lived to go to camp and she talked about it all the time. Consequently, her school teachers always thought she went to Camp Quality every school holidays, instead of once a year. After many years and many great times, Clair attended her last camp in September 2005, the year she finished school. For the past three years Clair has been volunteering in the Brisbane CQ office one day a week. She would be lost without her weekly CQ fix with all of her wonderful, supportive friends in the Office. I accompany Clair on her CQ 'work' day, helping out in any way possible.

Clair's brother Matt attended a few camps as a sibling prior to leaving school and on his 18th Birthday was presented with the application forms to be a companion. He has supported campers and siblings at approximately eighteen camps over the past five years or so and is counting down to his first camp for 2009. Matt has also participated in the Bayside to Bald Hills Walk/Run/Ride to raise money for CQ over the past seven years, raising several thousand dollars.

Camp Quality was such a big part of our lives when Clair was attending camps, and it is now our turn to give something back.

Thank you Camp Quality for all you have given us; the love, laughter, fun times and friendships.