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Campers Enjoy Smiles Aplenty

Published August 13. 2024 12:07PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

Camp Smile brought a week full of joy to campers at the annual event hosted by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley at Muhlenberg College’s Moyer Hall. Held the week of June 24-28, the day camps provided local kids battling cancer and their siblings, along with children who have lost a sibling to cancer a chance to play games, work on arts and crafts, swim, as well as participate in theater. Attendees were aged 4 to 15.

“We’ve had a great week!” exclaims Executive Director Michelle Zenie Rounds. “We’ve been really excited to have so many kids again this year.” She expressed appreciation for the volunteers, counselors, and especially for the efforts of Camp Smile Director Kristine Buss.

“We have been doing Camp Smile for 12 years,” says Buss. “I’ve been involved for 11 years.” The Upper Macungie Township resident also serves as the services and program director at PCFLV. “This is my favorite program to do at the Pediatric Cancer Foundation,” remarks Buss. “It’s my most favorite week of the year.”

Activities are tailored for three age groups, the youngest being ages 4-7, 8-11 in the middle group and 12-14-year-olds in the older group.

Ten of this year’s attendees had aged out, but returned as volunteers.

Hopping along in a potato sack race bag is Alyssa Smith as she completes a section of the Camp Smile obstacle course. “It’s just a very good time here,” says the 12-year-old seventh grader at Circle of Seasons Charter School. She is one of three Schnecksville siblings participating in camp activities this week.

Oldest brother Gregory had been diagnosed with brain cancer at 9 years old.

“I heard about Camp Smile and they invited us to come along,” recalls Gregory Smith who had just completed chemotherapy at the time. “We started attending that, I believe the next year,” he remarked. “It just was a really fun experience.”

The now 17-year-old volunteers as a camp counselor, along with 15-year-old younger brother Chase. “It’s nice to see the other side of everything, where you get to help and kind of pay for the things you got to do as a kid as well,” says the cancer survivor.

The brothers are students at Parkland HS.

Another trio of siblings from Hanover Township enjoy Camp Smile activities. Accompanying 7-year-old cancer warrior Jude Marzen are his 5-year-old brother Isaac and 12-year-old sister Cora. “My favorite activity is theater,” says Cora who is a seventh grader at a private Christian school.

A second grader, Jude Marzen’s favorite thing to do at camp is lacrosse, his sister Cora says, “My favorite activity is theater.”

A seventh grader at Eyer MS, 12-year-old Leslie Moore who was diagnosed with cancer at age 5 started attending Camp Smile with a fellow cancer patient. Arts and crafts are her favorite camp stations.

Each of 17 kids in the Lehigh Valley received a new cancer diagnosis according to PCFLV Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator Tracy Stauffer. Another child received a secondary diagnosis of cancer and a 15-year-old passed away after being diagnosed in March.

Stauffer’s daughter Vanessa is a cancer survivor and volunteers as a counselor. The 18-year-old 2024 Parkland High graduate is headed to Kutztown University to major in early education.

Funding for Camp Smile is provided by corporate sponsors, grants and donations.

The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley provides free programming and services to local children with cancer and their families.

The nonprofit is celebrating its 20th anniversary July 31 from 4 – 7 p.m. with tours, food, face painting, balloons, and more. The Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting is at 5 p.m.

PCFLV is located at 4501 Crackersport Rd. South Whitehall Township. Information: 484-221-9294; pcflv.org

In front, center, Jude Marzen joins his fellow performers in dancing to the preschool song “Let’s Go Heroes!” June 27. The 7-year-old from Hanover Township has been heroically winning his battle against brain cancer. Flanking him, from left, are 4-year-old Ellie Nass from Forks Township and Marzen’s 5-year-old brother Isaac.
With an arresting smile and a DARE Junior Officer badge, Cora Marzen masters hoop twirling at Camp Smile. The 12-year-old’s younger brother Jude had been diagnosed with brain cancer, but is doing well. The family resides in Hanover Township.
Owen Tremmel and Cameron Horn are assisted by camp counselor Chase Smith with a craft project June 27. Tremmel is a fourth grader at Fogelsville ES and Horn attends Fleetwood MS. Smith is a junior at Parkland HS.
Lexi Cable, Leslie Moore and Cora Marzen work on their stomp rockets as Camp Smile Director Kristine Buss checks on their progress. Cable lives in South Whitehall Township, Moore is an Upper Milford Township resident and Marzen calls Hanover Township home.
Lexi Cable, Leslie Moore and Cora Marzen assist each other as they successfully launch their stomp rockets at the conclusion of the camp’s science project.
PRESS PHOTOS BY ED COURRIERFlanked by Vanessa Stauffer and Andy Beilhart from Science Explorers, is Camp Smile Director Kristine Buss. Stauffer, an 18-year-old 2024 Parkland High graduate volunteers as a counselor and Beilhart leads the young ‘rocket scientists’ in a hands-on stomp rocket science project.
Gregory Smith is one of three Schnecksville siblings attending Camp Smile. The cancer survivor and his 15-year-old brother Chase, both students at Parkland High, volunteer as camp counselors. Their 12-year-old sister Alyssa participates as a camper.
Sibling of a cancer survivor Alyssa Smith completes a section of the Camp Smile obstacle course in a potato sack race bag. The Schnecksville resident attends seventh grade at Circle of Seasons Charter School.