On Saturday, April 30, at 8:00 a.m., Tampa Firefighters local 754 will be hosting the 6th Annual Pediatric Burn Survivor 5k. The first leg of the race is a 5k followed by a one mile walk. All of the proceeds go to the Pediatric Burn Survivors Camp.
The Pediatric Burn Survivors Camp known as Camp Hopetake (the Seminole word for children) takes place the second week of June with about 40 kids per camp! The camp is completely free for both children and counselors and all are accommodated in dorm rooms at the University of South Florida. The counselors are dedicated volunteers from Tampa Fire Rescue. The counselors ensure that each child receives specialized care, which is why there is a ratio of one counselor for every two campers.
The camp week is packed with fun-filled activities and trips to great places around Tampa such as Busch Gardens, Hillsborough River State Park, Adventure Island, bowling, Seaworld etc. These children range from age five to seventeen and have spent time within the Burn Units of either Tampa General Hospital or Shands Hospital. The Pediatric Burn Survivors Camp allows the children a chance to enjoy themselves while forgetting their troubles and emotional scars. At camp, they are able to speak with other children their age who are enduring similar situations. The campers are able to relate and support one another while developing long-lasting friendships. Even after camp, they remain in contact through Facebook or other means of communication.
Please join us for the 6th Annual Pediatric Burn Survivor 5k! This is a fantastic cause that you do not want to miss out on!
For more information please visit the Tampa Fire Fighters’ website here or check out their Facebook page!
Check out the International Association of Firefighters’ website here!
