A Letter from Executive Director / 志願服務總監的信
各位親愛的營友、營伴及家長:
自1998年至今,愛心童樂營已成立超過20年。在愛心童樂營數位職員的統籌及一眾營伴無私的奉獻下,我們得以在內地及香港為罹患癌症的兒童舉辦了形形式式的宿營及康樂活動,一起創造了數之不盡的精彩時刻。
癌症是兒童死亡的第二大常見原因,病童父母往往對癌症認識不多,而且又較難得到相關的支援,愛心童樂營正正是因當時香港並沒有這類型的支援服務而成立的。我們支援了香港四所主要公立醫院,為一眾正在與癌症奮鬥的病童及其家長提供康樂及社交活動,讓他們紓解身心上的壓力,這在當時可稱得上是一大突破。能夠一直處於最前線,為本地醫院的癌症病童提供各式宿營及康樂活動,好讓他們在與病魔奮鬥時能得到一絲喘息的機會,我們深感榮幸。
我們的營徽以熱氣球作為象徵,除了是因為夏令營時營友們有機會乘坐熱氣球升空外,更重要的是我們寄望愛心童樂營能夠與這熱氣球一樣,盛載着各位營友的勇氣和希望,一同冉冉上升,以不同角度欣賞這世界,共同渡過抗病的艱辛旅程。
愛心童樂營不但啟迪了我的心靈,更讓我學會熱愛生命,積極面對挑戰。愛心童樂營從一個簡單的念頭出發,逐漸發展成一個非凡的慈善組織,但我們的初心永遠不改—希望營友們能夠活得更精彩、更豐盛。在這二十年間,我接觸過不少的營友,有些營友的人生旅程雖然極其短暫,但他們的毅力與勇氣卻深深地打動了我,反令我與一眾營伴獲益良多。在參與如此有意義活動的同時,我們亦在無形中建立了一份使命感、希望能盡一己之力貢獻社會。
近年,社會迅速發展,除了在癌症治療技術方面有長足進步外,與愛心童樂營性質類似的慈善機構亦百花齊放,病童及家長較以前容易得到所需支援。主要贊助人與我們經過長時間的商議後,不得不作出了一個艱難的決定—鑑於組織架構改變和香港癌症病童所需支援跟以往不同,愛心童樂營將於2019年07月01日起停止香港區的營運。是次決定雖然令人婉惜,但回顧往昔,我們對愛心童樂營的成就亦感到非常驕傲。在餘下的數月,我們會協助有需要的病童,轉介他們至相類似的慈善機構,讓他們能夠繼續得到所需服務。
在過去二十年間,特別令我們引以為傲的是成功為數之不盡的營友帶來歡笑與希望,這實在是有賴一眾營伴無私的奉獻,才能為愛心童樂營這光輝的一頁添上點點姿彩。我在此謹代表愛心童樂營再次衷心感謝大家一直以來的信賴以及對我們無條件的支持。
希望愛心童樂營的精神以及我們之間多年來相處的點滴能永留大家心中,有緣再會。
祝 身體健康! 生活愉快!
香港愛心童樂營志願服務總監
黃瑞益 謹啟
Dear Friends & Supporters
It has been over 20 years since our team of dedicated staff and companion volunteers began advocating “quality camps” for children suffering from cancer in Hong Kong and on mainland China.
When Camp Quality offered our support program to the four major local government hospitals in Hong Kong, it was a major breakthrough because nothing similar was being offered at that time. Childhood cancer was the second most common cause of death in children and many parents could not get access to the knowledge and support they greatly needed from charities that were providing recreational or social support for children during their treatment.
Camp Quality was at the forefront of providing respite to these young patients and their families from the local hospitals and we are honoured to have been a major contributor to the many activities and camps we have successfully held for them since 1998. Our hot air balloon rides were the highlight of our summer camps but, most importantly, Camp Quality symbolized the lifting of spirits of the children, and gave them hope and strength to continue with their treatment.
Progress in society in the last two decades has been accompanied by significant medical advances in the treatment of childhood cancer and the support offered to parents and the children have increased considerably, not just in terms of medical treatments but with many charities offering similar types of support as Camp Quality.
Camp Quality has truly been a positive and inspiring time of my life. From a very simple idea sprung a remarkable charity which was responsible for helping our campers lead a more colourful and fulfilled life. The children I have come across have deeply moved me by their determination and courage. We helped to make a great difference to some of their short lives and we also provided the companions with a sense of purpose by helping a worthwhile project in their community. This has inspired all of us to be better people.
We made the difficult decision, particularly in view of the changes to the structure of Camp Quality and the changing needs of childhood cancer patients in Hong Kong, that Camp Quality would close our Hong Kong operations on July 1st, 2019. This decision was made with great sadness but also with great pride as I look back and see how much we achieved. As a volunteer–powered organization, we were able to change young lives and bring many smiles each year to the faces of our campers due to the tremendous support from our dedicated companions, wonderful supporters and very generous sponsors. You have all been instrumental to our success story.
We are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished in these 20 amazing years and could not be more thankful to those of you who have believed in us and invested your time and efforts with our charity. We have succeeded in bringing hope, happiness and life to many unfortunate children in Hong Kong and China.
Finally, it is our hope that the spirit of Camp Quality and all those happy and joyful moments we have created in Hong Kong and on the Mainland will forever stay with you all.
Thank you once again for all your love, kindness and support to Camp Quality Hong Kong throughout the years.
Yours truly,
Susan Wong
Executive Director