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S.O.A.R WITH CAMP GOOD DAYS AND SPECIAL TIMES
S.O.A.R.
Reflected in the serene waters of Keuka Lake, the reds, oranges, and yellows of the changing autumnal leaves sway in the mid-October breeze. Although the residential summer camp season ended over a month ago, the Camp Good Days Recreational Facility isn’t ready for winterization just yet; among the Camp’s 13.5 acres, small groups of adults wander between activities, laughing and conversing amongst themselves. Clad in matching blue t-shirts, these men and women all have one thing in common—all of them are affected by cancer. This is S.O.A.R. [Supportive Oncology Adult Retreat], a free event for members of the Camp Good Days Adult Oncology program, where those with cancer -- along with a supportive partner, -- can enjoy a relaxing weekend alongside others who are experiencing a similar battle.
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“It [Camp Good Days] means having support whenever needed, no matter what,” says Anne Klein, a participant who began attending Camp Good Days’ adult oncology events after her 2001 breast cancer diagnosis. Klein, who first heard about Camp Good Days after attending a support group in Brockport for those with breast cancer, is now a frequent volunteer for the Camp’s many year-round programs along with her husband Ronn. “We
BY ERIN L. FLEISCHER
have seen so many miracles happen there,” says Klein.
Founded in 1979 by Gary Mervis after his daughter, Teddi, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at age nine, Camp Good Days and Special Times provides free residential summer camp and year-round experiences for children and families affected by cancer and sickle cell anemia. The Adult
Oncology program was established in 1996 when the camp began hosting a free Women’s Wellness retreat for females with cancer. The program has since expanded to include an annual Men’s Prostate retreat and S.O.A.R., as well as additional year-round activities and networking opportunities. Nick Puleri, who attended camp as a child after being diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma before later moving on to be a volunteer for Camp Good Days, attended this year’s S.O.A.R event as an adult camper after experiencing a 2021 cancer relapse. According to him, “Being able to have conversations with other adults going through the same situations is somewhat therapeutic. As a kid, you have surgery, get treatment, and want to go play. As an adult, you have the added responsibilities of work, and taking care of yourself and others; it helps to be able to talk with others to see how they are dealing with the same things. It was great to work alongside some of the great volunteers that I grew up looking up to. They still reach out throughout the year to check in and see how things are doing. It warms my heart to know that there are people from my Camp family that think about me in addition to their own loved ones.”
This year, S.O.A.R. was held on the weekend of October 14th through the 16th at their Recreational Facility in Branchport, New York. Sixteen adults, all of whom have been diagnosed with or experienced a relapse in their cancer within the past ten years, attended the retreat alongside their supportive partners—spouses, adult children, lifelong friends, and parents were all among the attendees. Together, the campers participated in a variety of activities, including pumpkin painting, reiki, group canvas painting, hiking,
and wine tasting. Says Puleri, “The activities that they planned for us were great-- axe throwing, and a pig roast! I even got to make my goddaughter a stuffed unicorn for her birthday.”
When considering an adult oncology retreat for the first time, the participants acknowledge that the experience can seem daunting at first. Stacey Ruisi, a long-time Camp Good Days volunteer and 20-year breast cancer survivor, reflects on how she was first introduced into the Adult Oncology program: “I remember being so scared. But when I arrived, I was greeted with smiles and a ‘we are glad you are here!’ Still fresh from the words ‘you have cancer’ and not knowing what to expect for my future, I was so glad to see 15 to 20-year survivors laughing and having a great time. It gave me hope. I knew I had found a place where I could put my worries about cancer aside even if it was only for a day or two.” Johnnielynn Fiormonti, a pancreatic cancer survivor, was first introduced to Camp Good Days when she was asked to host an online group painting session through her company, The Painting Café, that was attended by campers during the pandemic. She attended S.O.A.R. alongside her husband, Paul, while also doing double-duty as an instructor for the retreat’s canvas painting activity. For Fiormonti, the retreat validated her feelings about surviving cancer. “You are in your own little world here and it’s a bubble of joy—you see precious little snippets of the children and the history and their experience everywhere. Everyone that I met there has their own struggles, but
they didn’t make it about themselves. I forgot what was happening outside in the world. I just feel so thankful.” True to her artistic background, Fiormonti states that the one thing she won’t forget about the retreat was the campers’ ability to freely express themselves: “I appreciated the time that I was able to spend time in the Arts and Crafts shed. It was so fun, and it felt like being in Kindergarten again—we got to play, and there was no competition.
My husband constantly worries about me, but he didn’t at all this weekend; he just got to enjoy himself too.” A’gota Fejes, a cancer survivor, traveled from New York City to attend S.O.A.R. alongside her husband Richard, who also has cancer. According to Fejes, “All employees and volunteers are open to explaining their passions, and share their passion to let you grow and have success.” When asked what she would take away from the camp experience, Fejes describes a prevalent sense of “love, help, happiness, beauty, openness, and enthusiasm.”
In the evenings, before heading back to their cabins, the participants enjoyed chatting around the campfire and gathering to watch a movie. On Saturday night, DJ Jerry Karns from Prestige Entertainment played disco music as the campers danced the night away wearing outfits straight from 1970. Nick Puleri, who brought his childhood friend to the retreat, used this opportunity to indoctrinate him into camp traditions; “I told him of
the long-standing Camp tradition in which the first time you go to Camp, as a man, you have to wear a dress. He was a good sport about it, and it was fun for me to see him get out of his shell and do his best to entertain everyone there.”
Before departing for home on Sunday, the group gathered at the camp’s chapel in the woods to participate in a closing ceremony led by Sister Francella Quinn, a tradition that is the highlight of the weekend for many. “I once heard a woman say, ‘thank God for cancer, because it changed my life for the better,’” said Tamara Federico, a Camp Good Days staff member who is in charge of organizing S.O.A.R. and the annual Women’s Wellness retreat. “I was perplexed, but she explained to me that her life is fuller now, as she is more apt to try new things and live life to the fullest.” Adds Ruisi, “The worst words in the world, ‘you have cancer’ brought me to the best place in the world, Camp Good Days!”
For more information about Camp Good Days and Special Times and the Adult Oncology program, please visit their website at www.campgooddays.org.
