Give Seriously ill Children their Childhood Back

"When you believe in yourself, anything is possible. Even when life seems to give you an unthinkably hard path to walk." Is the message Katie’s mom and stepdad tried to give their beloved little girl through every step of her long and painful journey with childhood cancer.

For Katie, it started when she was just six years old, with the smallest of lumps her mum felt on the side of her tummy one night. The lump wasn't sore, and there were no symptoms, but Katie's mum, Ciara, knew something wasn't right. They are about to be thrown headlong into an exhausting journey of appointments and surgeries and hospitals and specialists. Treatments that will leave their child looking absolutely exhausted, as fragile as their own broken hearts. Life itself was put on hold, when Katie was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour on her Kidney. 

"With childhood cancer and other serious illnesses, you have this feeling of lost control – a kind of helplessness that no one should ever have to face"

"Spring turns to summer, summer to autumn. When her hair falls out, you do like the hospital advised and let her know that means her medicine is working. She gives a little cheer, and you cheer with her. But inside you’re shattered."

Then one day, Katie's Grandad tells her mum about Barretstown.Turns out, Ciara's dad was a supporter of Barretstown, just like you. He told her of the Story of Little Adam, and how he and his family benifited from the amazing services of Barretstown. He said to Ciara, “You know, Barretstown is an amazing place for kids and families.” This time it was his own granddaughter. He encouraged them to call. 

"Would you believe that thanks to your kindness, Katie felt the achievement of climbing the rock wall at that very first weekend camp? It’s what Barretstown means when they talk about therapeutic recreation. There’s a whole science behind it, a way the Caras and activities build children and families back up that happens without them even noticing. The challenge and encouragement at the guided rock wall, for example, puts kids in control after months of them feeling defined by their diagnosis. You can watch their self-esteem grow, and you can hear their laughter, literally. You see them shift from ‘sick patient’ to child at play. It’s just magic." -Ciara

Katie's mum and Stepdad say it was the love and kindness of all of Barretstown’s amazing supporters that really helped Katie begin to trust and believe in herself again.

Katie and her family are just one of the many families Barretstown has served in the 30 years since Paul Newman expanded the Serious Fun network of camps into Ireland in 1994. I’m writing to you today to share Katie's story, and ask if you would please consider making the chance of Barretstown a reality for another child in Ireland right now like Katie, and for their family who loves them so dearly. Whether through childhood cancer or another serious illness, they’ve been holding their lives and emotions together by the thinnest of threads. Your generous gift can help them come to camp at Barretstown and bring the laughter and joy and magic to their lives again.

Last year in 2023, Barretstown was able to serve 17,676 children, through their onsite and outreach progammes. Our Goal for 2024 is to serve 24,000 children who are living with cancer and other serious illnesses. These children will have the opportunity to come to our wonderful site in County Kildare, where they can be care free and learn to enjoy their childhood, as they were meant to. They also begin to understand that they do not need to let their illness define them, all while being supported behind the scenes by 24 hour on-site medical care. 

No child should have to go through what Katie did. So for you to donate to Barretstown so children with serious illness can have those happy memories and forget what they’ve been through or what might be ahead of them – just to be a child again – that gift you give, it’s priceless. I hope you’ll help another child come to camp this spring if you’re able. Your generosity and kindness are life-changing to each and every family that come through the gates. 

Thank you with all our hearts for supporting the magic of Barretstown,

The Barretstown Team.