For the past three years, Easter Seals Camp in Squamish has been Ryder Gray’s happy place.
The Squamish native was born with a rare disease that causes problems with his legs and makes him unable to walk.
For years, the 10-year-old Mamquam Elementary school student saw his three siblings head off to camp in the summer, and he was thrilled when he finally got the opportunity to share some of that carefree joy.
“He likes it because he can do everything that’s there,” said his mother, Amanda Gray. “There’s not many struggles for him at Easter Seals. If he were to go to a regular camp there might be too many obstacles for him and he might not enjoy it.”
Amanda said she appreciates the fact that Easter Seals gives Ryder the chance to do everything his siblings can do. She said there are a number of things her son loves about the camp.
“His most favourite thing is the trampoline,” she said. “And he likes the tow ropes, but above all he really loves the camp counselors.”
She said having the camp so close to Squamish is comforting both to her and Ryder.
“It’s amazing because I don’t have to worry about how he’s doing,” she said. “We’re not allowed to go check on him when he’s in camp but it gives me the safety and security that he’s basically in his own backyard and somewhere he knows. He knows all the counselors and sometimes we’ll walk over there and say hi to them – he’s very well known at the camp.”
The Easter Seals 24-Hour Challenge will be a big deal for the family because it gives Ryder the chance to show off his digs to his siblings and mother.
“He’s pretty excited and my other kids are very excited to see what it’s like for Ryder at camp,” Amanda said.
The event will be held on June 13 and 14 at Easter Seals Camp in Squamish and feature 12 hours of competitive and fun camp challenges, then 12 hours of overnight fun and glow-in-the-dark activities.
Amanda said the family is sleeping over at the camp, and before the big day, raising money to help send kids like Ryder to camps like Easter Seals. She noted that it can be expensive to care for a child with special needs.
“Camp used to be free, but now more people are donating to other charities and less to Easter Seals, so now it costs $500 to send a child to this camp,” she said. “There are so many costs associated with having a kid with special needs…
“The best part for me is always just to see the smile on Ryder’s face,” she said.
Amanda is selling 50/50 tickets outside of the BC Liquor Store at Garibaldi Village on June 2 and 3, with all proceeds going back to Easter Seals.
For details on the challenge, visit www.vancouver.24hourcampchallenge.com.
