07-24-2009, 12:10 AM
Sixty-eight volunteers recently came together to take over 100 kids from Oklahoma Children's Hospital fishing at Lake Texoma.
Camp Cavett offers outdoor experiences to children who are undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, sickle cell anemia and other childhood illnesses, and each year anglers and boaters from across Oklahoma, Texas and even Louisiana volunteer their time and their boats to take them fishing.<br />
"Some of these kids have had a tough time over the last few years, but they're just like any other kids - they love to go fishing and take a boat ride," said Gene Gilliland, central region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.<br />
Gilliland volunteers each year and said some of the campers don't get to fish at home, either because their conditions will not allow them to fish easily or because they are in the hospital too much to find time. Getting the opportunity to go through Camp Cavett gets them involved in the outdoors, giving them something to look forward to as well as broadening their appreciation for the natural world.<br />
"Both the volunteers and kids have a great time. It is something we all look forward to," Gilliland said.<br />
Other opportunities this summer will allow childhood patients to experience fishing as well, and volunteers are needed. Children who are burn victims will have the opportunity to go fishing Aug. 15 through the 2009 Oklahoma Firefighters' Burn Camp. Volunteers who wish to guide or provide a boat can print out a form available by logging on to http://www.okbassfednation.com/Community...20Form.pdf , and upon completion, mail or email it to the address provided. For more information, contact Burn Camp Fishing and Boating chairman Kristi Collins at (918) 830-4631 or kcollins@premiersteelservices.com
Camp Cavett offers outdoor experiences to children who are undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, sickle cell anemia and other childhood illnesses, and each year anglers and boaters from across Oklahoma, Texas and even Louisiana volunteer their time and their boats to take them fishing.<br />
"Some of these kids have had a tough time over the last few years, but they're just like any other kids - they love to go fishing and take a boat ride," said Gene Gilliland, central region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.<br />
Gilliland volunteers each year and said some of the campers don't get to fish at home, either because their conditions will not allow them to fish easily or because they are in the hospital too much to find time. Getting the opportunity to go through Camp Cavett gets them involved in the outdoors, giving them something to look forward to as well as broadening their appreciation for the natural world.<br />
"Both the volunteers and kids have a great time. It is something we all look forward to," Gilliland said.<br />
Other opportunities this summer will allow childhood patients to experience fishing as well, and volunteers are needed. Children who are burn victims will have the opportunity to go fishing Aug. 15 through the 2009 Oklahoma Firefighters' Burn Camp. Volunteers who wish to guide or provide a boat can print out a form available by logging on to http://www.okbassfednation.com/Community...20Form.pdf , and upon completion, mail or email it to the address provided. For more information, contact Burn Camp Fishing and Boating chairman Kristi Collins at (918) 830-4631 or kcollins@premiersteelservices.com