The best success stemming from Summerfest, Epilepsy Ontario’s annual camp program for children living with epilepsy, is that it has been creating independence and self-esteem for children and youth since 1994, says founder Anita Allen, neurology clinic nurse at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

For 18 years, Summerfest has seen an average of 20 to 40 children and youth attend each Summerfest session, where they participate in activities such as hiking, kayaking and sports at Camp Couchiching, near Orillia.

Allen says she started the camp simply because it filled an important need.

“There aren’t too many overnight camps that will take the responsibility of taking a child with epilepsy,” she says.

“(Summerfest) opens up their independence and it gives them more self-esteem because they see successes, they see that they can do things. At school, they’re always told that’s not the way to do something, that they have to do it this way. At camp, they can explore their surroundings, explore what they want to do, (and see) what they succeed at.”

Allen notes that children living with epilepsy often live lives with limitations. Summerfest strives to remove those limitations.

She points out that there is some degree of risk with any child attending any camp, but that those small risks should not dominate a child’s life or prevent them from doing the things they want to do. To mitigate risks at Summerfest, there is close supervision and appropriate nursing care is offered on site.

Once children leave Summerfest, the successes and accomplishments they achieved go with them, and this greater sense of self-esteem can be carried into other aspects of their lives, Allen notes.

“It is largely about (helping) kids grow up,” she says.

Today, Allen’s connection to Summerfest is largely in a recruitment role. To attract campers, she sends information from Epilepsy Ontario about Summerfest to Ontario children’s hospitals, which post the information in their facilities. The goal is to attract children and youth from across the province.

Allen also reviews applications that go through Epilepsy Ontario, highlighting key issues. If she doesn’t know the children, she arranges for the campers and their parents to meet with her at SickKids to discover what they hope to get out of Summerfest and whether or not they need mentoring.

Allen says she continues to stay involved with Summerfest after all these years because most people don’t have the time required to be involved with the program. Knowing the positive impact Summerfest has on children is what continues to drive her, she says.

If you would like to donate to the Summerfest Camp program, please click here.

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Writer: Deron Hamel

The eighth annual Richardson Charity Golf Tournament is a chance for people to have a fun day of playing golf while helping raise money for Summerfest, an annual opportunity for children and youth living with epilepsy to enjoy summer camp with appropriate nursing care.

Held Aug. 24 at Ariss Valley Golf Club near Guelph, the tournament was launched by chief organizer Ian Richardson and his family in honour of his father, who lived with epilepsy.

Since the tournament was launched in 2006, almost $30,000 has been raised. Each year the event aims to raise about $5,000, Richardson says.

“As a family we said, ‘why don’t we book a day where we try to get everyone out for some golf and turn it into a fundraiser and raise what we can for epilepsy,’ ” says Richardson.

“It grew from that. The first year we had maybe 20 to 30 people and we now get around 100 people each year. . . . The goal is to just raise as much money as possible and getting everyone out for a fun day.”

When the first tournament was held, most participants were the Richardson’s family members and some close friends. With each tournament came more people; at first friends of friends, then expanding to others.

Eventually, corporate sponsors came on board, including Suncor, Rogers Communications Inc. and Burger King, says Richardson.

Richardson says if there’s one key thing he’s learned since launching the tournament it’s that epilepsy affects many people — both directly and indirectly.

“I was surprised by how many people either had a family member or a friend who was epileptic and they understood how that impacts, not just the person with epilepsy, but also the family members,” says Richardson.

Richardson the tournament’s growth has surprised him, adding it’s especially touching to see others getting involved with the tournament, whether or not they are in some way affected by epilepsy.

“After living what we lived through with my father, in terms of how epilepsy impacted our lives, we have got a reason to do what we can to raise as much money as possible, but it’s great to see other people chipping in and helping out,” he says.

Click here to register or donate.

If you have feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca, or leave a comment below.

Writer: Deron Hamel