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A day camp in Edmonton for children with disabilities and chronic illnesses received funding to continue in the future.
Andrée Vincent started last summer a Starlight performance camp, which offers children with disabilities and chronic diseases aged 5 to 14 years the opportunity to try gymnastics, dance, cheerleading and fashion.
"We try to support them throughout the day, to encourage them and to make sure that they never feel discouraged," Vincent told CBC News Saturday at Ortona Gymnastics, where about 30 children participated in the second edition of an event.
Vincent, a medical student at the University of Alberta, said she was working with a friend who was doing a residency in pediatrics as part of the initiative.
The Starter Performance Camp received a $ 3,000 grant from the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, which will allow it to continue for the next five years, Vincent added.
"It's something that we felt was not quite there for children with chronic diseases or disabilities and we really wanted to provide that opportunity," said Vincent
Leukemia survivor Lalla-Rita Hachim, 11, learned a dance routine to show her parents at the end of the day.
She says the camp is "pretty fun".
11-year-old Lalla-Rita Hachim is a leukemia survivor who believes the Starlight camp is "pretty fun". (Gabrielle Brown)
"That's what I've always wanted to do," Hachim said. "I've always wanted to learn gymnastics and become an athlete."
Shaun Hill's daughter had a heart transplant and a double lung transplant seven years ago.
She attended camp last year and was back this year.
"When she learns that she's going away, she's all excited and she's out all day," Hill said.
"For children like her, it's pretty good to see that they come out and have some kind of a decent childhood."
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