Sending kids to camp

‘Extraordinary women’ give Brigadoon Village 57k boost

One night of good, clean fun topped off with a hint of child-like wonder is about to have a lasting impact on several children in line to attend Camp Brigadoon.

Brigadoon Village board member Mary Dable Arab knows first-hand how the unique camp experience can lift the spirits of a child living with chronic illness. Dable Arab’s nine-year-old son was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis as a toddler, and has met other kids living with the same condition while attending Brigadoon’s Camp Jointogether.

“I think the greatest impact is when they see other children like themselves,” said Dable Arab.

“They can have fun and be themselves.”

Camp serves up a healthy dose of strength, guidance, compassion and laughs, Dable Arab said.

“It gives you the energy and courage - and the fuel - to keep going.”

Dable Arab, president of BARA Management Group, recently held a fund and awareness-raising event at her home in the Halifax-area to rally support for Brigadoon. She invited 100 extraordinary women to her home in hopes that the group would raise $25,000 to cover the cost of sending 25 kids to camp.

“We are thrilled to announce that not only did this group of extraordinary women raise over $32,000, but an anonymous guest also made a gift of $25,000, surpassing $57,000 for the evening,” a press release circulated by Brigadoon Village reads.

Dable Arab felt compelled to host a fundraiser that would benefit cash-strapped families that are unable send a child to summer camp on top of covering the costs of the necessary medical expenses.

“Brigadoon Village operates on a pay-what-you-can fee structure, so families can pay as little or as much as they can, with extraordinary donors and partner organizations, like Mary Dable Arab, covering the remainder of the costs,” the Brigadoon Village media release notes.

Dable Arab’s fundraiser was built around a fitting theme – camping. There were smore stations for marshmallow roasting, a lemonade stand evoking child-like wonder with the words ‘once upon a time’ spelled out in italic mirrored letters, themed party favours, glittery champagne and food prepared by resident Brigadoon chef Dianne Kendall.

“The idea was to conjure up your childhood. We all had hopes and dreams when we were children,” she said, adding she wanted the evening to stir up feelings of being at camp.

“We wanted to inspire conversation about what Brigadoon is.”

Dable Arab was thrilled with the end result of bringing a generous group of extraordinary women together in support of a common cause.

“I had a wide network of people that I thought I could reach out to and really do something fun,” she said.

It warms her heart to think of the number of families that will have help sending a child to Camp Brigadoon as a result of the successful fundraiser.

“I just think it’s fantastic,” she said.

“It’s just one less thing a parent has to worry about.”