For Mia Fitzpatrick, 12, and Brody Hourigan, 14, the Challenge summer camps are pencilled in their diaries long beforehand.
Summer camps are offered to teenagers aged between 12 and 15, who are either living with cancer, in remission or have a sibling with cancer.
Mia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2012. The Airport West teen is now in remission and savouring every moment of it.
She was among a group of 20 youth who visited the Melbourne Runabout and Speedboat Club in Exford last Friday.
“[The camps] just help me get away from everything and calm down,” Mia said.
“It’s a really great experience. I’ve been on five camps and enjoyed every one.”
About five years ago, Brody’s doctors gave him devastating news: he had Ewings sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
“It was pretty much eating into my hip,” said Brody, who is now in remission for the second time. “[Challenge] makes you forget everything you’ve had and just makes you feel special.
“Who wouldn’t want to come back here every year? It’s amazing – they’re just great people.”
The teens have been coming to the Exford club for the past four years.
Club registrar Ray Gusman said Challenge was a way to give back to community.
“Hosting Challenge for the day is something we really enjoy doing,” Mr Gusman said.
To learn more about the camps, visit challenge.org.au.
