Charity digs deep for kids with cancer

A HOST of families who’ve been affected by cancer enjoyed a great day out at Bendigo Heritage Mine last Saturday thanks to children’s charity Camp Quality.

The Family Fun Day gave them the opportunity to have a much-needed break from the trauma of the disease – the jam-packed event included activities such as a special underground tour of the mine, arts and crafts, and ball games.

Two families to take part in and enjoy the day were the Dempsters and the Jaskolskis – with young Alex Dempster having been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in February 2024 and Adelina Jaskolski with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2022.

“Alex loved the gold panning; he found a few flecks of gold and (his brother) Rory loved seeing how the explosives worked and the drilling machines. They loved going underground for the first time,” dad Jayden Dempster said.

Adelina’s mum Kimberley said the day was “a lot of fun”.

“We really enjoyed the underground mine tour,” she said.

“We all tried the gold panning and Adelina and (her brother) Sebastian found a few gems.

“The kids found it really educational and we loved getting the chance to meet other families.”

Camp Quality’s CEO Deborah Thomas explained her organisation’s programs give children and their families post-hospital support by providing a break from cancer in order for the family to reconnect, have fun and become part of a like-minded community.

“We provide the opportunity for families to create happy memories together, often for the first time since diagnosis,” she said.

“We know that the impact of our camps is not just the fun of the moment, but the long-lasting positive effect of connectedness, whereby we help build resilience and optimism to improve mental well-being for the journey ahead.

“Kids with cancer miss out on so much – our camps give (them) a chance to just be kids again, make friends, rebuild relationships with their family and finally have a healthy dose of fun.”

Research shows that the impact of Camp Quality’s recreation activities is real, with 99 per cent of parents saying family camps result in a marked improvement in “family connection and adaptability”.

Over 80 per cent of kids also said they felt less anxious and more confident after camp.