SURREY, BC, July 17 /CNW/ - The BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund
Burn Camp kicks off this Sunday, July 19 with 61 young burn injured children,
10 junior counsellors, and 53 counsellors and support staff heading up to
Squamish for a week of fun. Campers and their counsellors participate in group
activities such as swimming, hiking, kayaking, rafting, a skit night, and arts
& crafts. They also receive valuable one-on-one support from junior
counsellors - themselves burn survivors - and from their counsellors.
A pancake breakfast and Camp Kick Off celebration is set for Sunday, July
19 from 9 AM to Noon at the Cloverdale Athletic Park in Surrey. Surrey Fire
Fighters Local 1271 hosts the celebration.
Media are invited to meet the campers, chat with their families and the
camp's counsellors who donate their time - professional fire fighters, burn
unit doctors & nurses and adult burn survivors - all who make up 'Burn Camp
2009.'
In conjunction with Burn Camp, the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn
Fund urges everyone, especially children, to take care and have a safe,
injury-free summer. Campers' injuries range from playing with gasoline and
matches, to scalds from hot water and liquids, to accidental injuries like
house fires and boating and car accidents. Many of the injuries were
preventable. To assist the public, the Burn Fund has issued a list of summer
safety tips, available on line at www.burnfund.org.Event 'KICK OFF TO CAMP' - BC Professional Fire Fighters'
16th Annual Summer Camp for burn injured children
Date & Time Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 9 AM to Noon
Location Cloverdale Athletic Park
6330 168th Street, Surrey, BC
Directions from Vancouver: Follow Highway 1 East over the
Port Mann Bridge. Take the 176th Street exit. Follow
176th South to 64th Avenue; turn right on 64th Avenue to
168th Street; turn left on 168th Street. The park and
parking lot are on your left.
From the Alex Fraser bridge: take the 64th Avenue exit
(East) to 168th Street, turn right at 168th Street and
the park and parking lot are on your left.
Agenda Meet the campers, their families and the camp
Details volunteers - fire fighters, burn unit doctors & nurses
and adult burn survivors - all who make up Burn Camp
2009!
Pancake Breakfast 9 AM to 10 AM
- Hosted by Surrey Fire Fighters Local 1271 & Surrey
Lions Club
Family Fun & Entertainment 10 AM to 11:45 AM
Photo - Games and fire fighter activities including fire
Opportunities trucks, fire arson dogs, face painting, water park,
bouncy castle and mini-combat challenge.
Interview - Burn Fund Fire Fighter representatives, camp
Opportunities counsellors, selected young burn survivor campers and
their families.
Official Official Kick Off to Camp Ceremonies start at 11 AM
Ceremonies
- Ceremony, including sponsor recognition, cheque
presentations, and camper and counsellor
introductions. The speaker list is available on
request. Also: presentation of the $1,000 dollar
Oswald Howell Memorial Bursary Award. Burn survivors
from British Columbia who are continuing their post
secondary education are eligible to apply for the
Oswald Howell Memorial Bursary.
Departure Departure for Camp 11:45 AM to 12 Noon (Prompt)
for Camp
- Campers and Counsellors gather for a 12 Noon departure
About Burn Camp is funded by the BC Professional Fire
Burn Camp Fighters' Burn Fund. It is free for young burn survivors,
thanks to the generous support of caring fire fighters,
hospital staff, corporations, foundations, service
organizations and individuals.
Camp counsellors donate all of their time. They are
professional fire fighters from around the province,
adult burn survivors and doctors and registered nurses
from the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn, Plastic and
Trauma Unit at Vancouver General Hospital, BC Children's
Hospital Burn Program, Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital
Burn Unit and Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops.
About the The Burn Fund is a registered non-profit charity
Burn Fund established in 1978 by the BC Professional Fire Fighters
Association. It provides life saving, life supporting,
and life enriching services to the people in British
Columbia.
More than 3,700 professional fire fighters from
50 communities in British Columbia and Yukon dedicate
their time and skills to support burn survivors and
increase the public's knowledge about fire and burn
safety issues through the work the Burn Fund does with
its Burn Awareness, Research and Prevention Programs.
To make a donation or for more information, visit
www.burnfund.org.
Media Contact Margo Bates, Public Relations for BC Professional Fire
Fighters' Burn Fund at 604-536-9501, or E-Mail
mbpr@shaw.ca
Please confirm your attendance at the Kick Off to Camp
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Event.
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We would be happy to arrange an interview with a Burn
Fund Representative in your area.
Photo & FOR THE BURN FUND:
Interview
Opportunities Michael Hurley, President, BC Professional Fire
at Kick Off Fighters' Burn Fund, and Heather Wilson-Banks, Burn Camp
Event Director.
Both are Professional Fire Fighters from Burnaby
Local 323.
FOR BURN CAMP: Camp counsellor Brian Pederson, a
professional fire fighter from Abbotsford Local 2864 and
10-year-old burn survivor/camper Alexander Weipert
(why-purt) from Aldergrove.
Abbotsford fire fighter Brian Pederson attended church
camp as a child. When he found out there was a camp with
a fire fighter and burn survivor focus, he volunteered,
because he remembers how going to camp was a highlight of
his young life. "As counsellors, we watch the campers
open up and become comfortable with their peers," says
Pederson. "These kids deserve to just be themselves. No
stares. No questions. Just a lot of fun and water fights.
Burn Camp really made a difference for Alexander Weipert.
It has made an incredible difference for me." Pederson
says he is looking forward to being Alexander's
counsellor again this year, to see how he's grown.
Alexander was injured when he was eight-years-old. He was
badly scalded when a hot water bottle he leaned on split
open.
This is his second year at Burn Camp. "It's the water
fights, and seeing all my friends," says Alexander. His
father Barry says his son's attitude has changed since he
went to Burn Camp. His parents and family have noticed a
difference in him, especially since he has the support
from the Burn Fund, the Fire Fighters and other young
burn survivors at camp. He is more accepting of his
injury.
Both Brian Pederson and Alexander Weipert are available
for interviews during the Kick Off to Camp Event.
For further information: Media Contact: Margo Bates, Telephone: (604)
536-9501 or E-Mail: mbpr@shaw.ca
