Barretstown is here for families throughout their cancer journey. Our residential camps have a profound effect and lasting impact on our campers and their families. After participating, children go home with increased confidence, self-esteem and more importantly the reassurance that happiness is not just for healthy children.

Meet Katie. Katie is one of the many campers we have served through our residential programmes over the past 30 years. Katies world came grinding to a halt when she received the devastating diagnosis of cancer – a Wilms Tumour on her kidney, at just 6 years old. 

Following an exhausting journey of appointments and surgeries and hospitals and specialists, Katie, her Mum Ciara and Step-Dad Tom came to Barretstown.

With the med shed on site fully stocked and equipped to look after Katie and anything she needed, she could really immerse herself freely into life at camp.

Through our therapeutic recreation programmes, Katie finally felt back in control after months of being defined by her diagnosis. Ciara watched her self esteem grow and saw a shift from ‘sick patient’ to child at play. Ciara told us it’s a memory she’ll treasure as long as she lives.

Will you be there for another family like Katies this Spring?