Danny was a Camp Quality kid, now he’s a volunteer!

Many Camp Quality kids find themselves so inspired by Camp Quality’s volunteers, that they return as adults to  apply to be a volunteer themselves – one of those people is Danny.

Danny applied to volunteer with Camp Quality in 2023, saying that he was inspired to give back to the organisation that supported him and his family through their own cancer journey.

“Being diagnosed with leukaemia at age five was super scary for myself and my family. [However], having the hospital as a second home wasn’t all grey and gloom – I had great connections with doctors and nurses and was introduced to Camp Quality.”

While in hospital for cancer treatment, kids can become isolated from their peers, as well as the wider community. Too often they only interact with their parents, carers and hospital staff. Danny said at the time he felt “totally frightened of having to socialise with other kids”, and the idea of attending a Kids Camp with Camp Quality felt intimidating.

However, after he attended a Family Camp, and then a Kids Camps with his older brother, he realised many participants at the programs had been through similar experiences as him, saying he “didn’t feel alone.”

This idea of being surrounded by people with shared experiences was a big motivator in Danny’s decision to volunteer, saying: “Being a [cancer] survivor, I was so excited to show kids that it is possible to come out the other side happy, fit, and healthy.”

Danny recently attended his first Family Camp as a volunteer, and his enthusiasm for supporting the families and young campers was evident from the very start when he checked in on a camper who was less involved in the activities.

Danny said “Once I let him know that I had been a Camp Quality kid and I was diagnosed quite young myself, his eyes widened, and his questions got more enthusiastic. We shared stories about time spent in hospital, feelings about how both our brothers and families felt, and other ways the cancer diagnosis impacted us. It felt amazing to let this kid know that he was not alone, and there is brightness on the other side of hardship. I’m very grateful that Camp Quality gave me that opportunity.”

Camp Quality Western Australia Family Program Coordinator Chriss Marinoni said “Spending time talking to this camper about his experience with cancer, Danny changed the whole weekend for this child, knowing what he was going through was understood by someone else. He displayed what it means to be a real role model for our Camp Quality kids.”

Danny says that anyone who wants to volunteer with Camp Quality, should jump in and apply!

“It’s an adventurous, lively experience, and I think it’s inevitable you will find something [new] within yourself.”