Fundraiser to be held for kids suffering the pain of a parent's cancer - East Idaho News
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Fundraiser to be held for kids suffering the pain of a parent’s cancer

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IDAHO FALLS — When cancer strikes a parent, it hits children especially hard.

That’s why one local chapter of Camp Kesem is raising money to help support children with a diagnosed parent. Camp Kasem is a nationwide community organization driven primarily by college students to support children with sick parents.

Camp Kesem Teton Valley is in its fifth year and plans to host 50 children at Camp Alice Pittenger near McCall. Director Gillian Fisher said because cancer is so expensive, the camp is free to families.

Camp Kesem spokeswoman Brielle Farnsworth said the cost of the camp is $250 per child. The camp’s organizers, made up of Brigham Young University Idaho student volunteers, go to great lengths all year to raise the funding needed to keep the camp free.

“We go knocking door to door for spare change. Last year we joined up with the Idaho Falls Chuckars to do a car smash,” Farnsworth said.

This year, camp organizers are holding a Make the Magic event to fund the camp and activities.

“We want to provide support to every child in Idaho who is going through a parent’s cancer,” Fisher said. “If you come to Make the Magic, you’re going to be changing a child’s life.”

The Make the Magic event will be Saturday, March 10 at 6 p.m. at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls. Patrons can buy tickets to the event online.

Farnsworth said this is the first Make the Magic event where guests will enjoy great food, guest speakers and opportunities to donate money. Funds will help provide yearlong peer support and send 50 kids to camp. The event will include dinner and dessert, and speeches from campers and counselors.

Last year the camp took 37 kids. Farnsworth said the more funds they raise, the more kids they can remove from the waitlist.

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