Camp Quality lets kids be kids

SURVIVORS: Alex Anstis and Jake Simpson, 7, get ready to celebrate Odd Shoe for Camp Quality.

Pony rides, waterslides, disco dances, and sleepovers with no parents in sight are all staples of a regular kiwi childhood.

But for Masterton youngsters Alexandria Anstis and Jacob Simpson, these adventures are milestones their families despaired of ever seeing.

Alex and Jake, both seven, have had a rocky start to life: diagnosed with cancer as toddlers, their early years were a cycle of hospital beds, needles, blood transfusions and heavy-duty medications.

Nowadays, both live full and action-packed lives -- thanks to Camp Quality, an annual summer camp for five to 16-year-olds with cancer.

The camps offer various social and adventure activities -- from costume parties to hot air balloon rides -- giving campers back the joy of childhood after the terrifying adult world of chemotherapy and spinal injections.

For Alex and Jake's parents, the camp marks their kids' independence after three years of "living in a bubble".

"They're so sheltered while having treatment," Louise Hight, Alex's mum, said.

"The can't swim in public pools, they can't be in the sun, they have to be careful not to bruise, they can't eat mince pies or luncheon.

"They're wrapped in cotton wool -- but Camp Quality lets them do normal kid things."

Louise's world was thrown into turmoil when Alex was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at two-and-a-half.

Almost right away, her family was bundled into a Life Flight Air Ambulance, headed to Christchurch Hospital.

"They said if it hadn't have been caught then, she'd have been dead within two weeks."

Vanessa Simpson noticed her normally energetic and "full on" son Jake wasn't himself just before his third birthday.

"I took him to the doctor, and they said nothing was wrong.

"Then, he woke up one morning with his eye bulging out of his head."

He was diagnosed with acute form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and began eight months of invasive chemotherapy.

To make matters worse, Vanessa and Jake were at Christchurch Hospital when the 22 February 2011, earthquake hit.

"It was awful -- Jake's bed was practically leaping off the floor."

With their cancer in remission, the children have attended two summer camps -- coming home with tales of helicopter rides, jetboating, horse riding, air rifle shooting, and the girls getting their hair done for disco night.

They also formed strong bonds with their "buddies" -- volunteers trained to be mentors for each camper.

"I was telling Jake's buddy a bit about his history, and he said 'we don't need to know about that -- we're here to have fun'," Vanessa said.

She and Louise said sending Alex and Jake to Camp Quality for the first time was difficult, as the kids were "completely dependent on them" during treatment.

"It was intense -- for a long time, Jake would always sleep right next to me.

"I cried seeing him off, and rang up on the first night to see he was sleeping okay.

"He was fine -- he didn't miss me at all."

Various events will be held in Wairarapa for Odd Shoe Day, the major fundraiser for Camp Quality, this Friday -- including an "odd shoe" mufti day at Opaki School, which Alex attends.