A month ago, the Northwest Burn Foundation cancelled Camp Eyabsut, its annual summer camp for young burn survivors. These kids, ages 7-17, come every year from all over the Pacific Northwest to spend one week with fellow survivors. They have been burned in different ways, on different parts of their bodies and to different extents, but they all know the pain involved in surviving a burn, as well as the physical and emotional scars burns leave behind. For 24 years this camp, held right here at Camp Waskowitz in North Bend, has provided young burn survivors a week-long fun, safe camp experience – one that creates a sense of belonging.
This cancellation was a “call to action” for many camp volunteer leaders and community supporters; a chance to step up and find a way to save the camp for the kids.
Camp Eyabsut (meaning “to rise above anything”) has a new sponsor working to save the July 2012 camp – The Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation (WSCFFBF). The Mount Si Cheer Team has chosen to help support Camp Eyabsut by joining the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters in their fundraising efforts this summer.
The fundraising drive, called the Bucket Brigade, kicks off the Camp Eyabsut Rescue fundraising events scheduled for the months of June and July. Volunteers will be out and about tomorrow with buckets collecting donations to help Camp Eyabsut make it their 25th year. Mount Si Cheerleadrers will be out in the Snoqualmie Valley community tomorrow, June 2nd with red buckets doing their part to help save the camp. In addition, the North Bend Theatre is hosting a Camp Eyabsut Movie Day on Sunday, June 3rd, featuring Men in Black 3. Showtimes are 2PM and 5PM . Ticket prices are $10.00, which includes a small pop & small popcorn. $7.00 of each ticket sale will go directly to Camp Eyabsut. You can buy tickets for the event online at brownpapertickets.com.
In August, North Bend’s Emerald City Smoothie will host the ever popular Duck Derby at The Festival at Mt Si. Leading up to the derby, the MSHS Cheer Team will be selling the derby’s rubber ducks throughout the summer and at the North Bend block party on July 14th. All monies raised will also be donated directly to Camp Eyabsut.
A former Eyabsut camper posted this on Facebook recently: “Camp was the best medicine, the best pain reliever and the best counseling I could have ever received! I was given hope when I attended my first year at camp.”
The MSHS Cheer Team is asking the community to please take the time to donate this weekend, either at the movies or wherever you see their buckets around the community. You can also go to www.saveburncamp.org for information and/or to donate online.
