Livewire teams up with HeartKids for Teen Camp

09 Feb 2010

Livewire teams up with HeartKids for Teen Camp



The sixth annual Teen Camp was recently held in Brisbane by Livewire's affiliate partner HeartKids. Over 100 Heart Kids, siblings and supervisors from right around the country were in attendance. The camp was generously supported by Variety Clubs from around Australia and by Roche Diagnostics. 

HeartKids is an Australian organisation that offers support to children and to families of children with heart disease, be it congenital or acquired. They partner with leading cardiologists and researchers and provide funding for them to assist in reducing the incidence of children's heart disease (CHD) and to improve quality of life.

HeartKids teen camps bring together young people aged 13-18 living with CHD from all over Australia. This year's camp was held at the YMCA Camp Warrawee located in Joyner about ½ hr from Brisbane.

Teens enjoyed a full program of activities that included, the Giant Swing, Hanging Vines, Low Ropes, Canoeing, Raft Building and Water Volley Ball.

Livewire attended to show the campers how they can stay in touch with friends made at the Teen Camp as well as meet new friends going through similar experiences on Livewire. Livewire provided campers with registration support so they would be able to get online as soon as they got home.

In addition, the camp included a number of new activities including a pampering night for the girls, bare foot night bowls for the boys and a session led by a leading clinical psychologist.

For many teenagers, the 2010 Teen Camp was the first camp they had ever been allowed to attend, due to the complexity and seriousness of their heart condition and the inability or unwillingness of their school to let them participate in their camps. Many campers had never been apart from their parents or travelled on a plane - there were many new experiences for all. The teens greatly appreciated the camp and showed incredible enthusiasm for the many activities as well as the opportunity to meet with peers and make new friends. It was a chance for the campers to forget about their health worries, ignore their scars and totally relax in each other's company. All campers had shared a similar journey and had so much in common.

Great care and detailed planning ensured the teens were well cared for at all times. There were 20 highly trained volunteer supervisors in attendance, including doctors and nurses from the Mater Hospital in Brisbane and the Royal Children's Hospital Cardiology department. The medical team administered all medications and provided a secure and safe environment for the teenagers.

Many thanks to HeartKids for this article.



To read more about HeartKids visit: http://www.heartkids.org.au

Is your organisation interested in booking a Livewire presentation?

Livewire offers a selection of informative and fun presentations and workshops for young people, students, teachers, health professionals and community or disability workers. To book a presentation in your state, or for more information, contact:

Rosa Gangemi, Outreach Program Manager, Livewire
Ph: (02) 8425 5926
Email: rosa.gangemi@livewire.org.au  

For more information on Livewire Outreach click here

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