The Summer That Saved Him: How Camp Sunrise Became Part of Joe’s Story

Cancer has touched Joe’s life in more ways than most people experience in a lifetime. He was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at age seven. His father, Karl, faced acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a toddler. Years later, his mother would be diagnosed with breast cancer. Each diagnosis came at a different time, but together they shaped the family’s understanding of strength, uncertainty, and the incredible impact of community.

When Joe first arrived at Camp Sunrise, he was a quiet, anxious child who carried the emotional weight of everything he had been through. It showed in the way he hesitated before speaking, the way he avoided drawing attention to himself, and the way he seemed unsure of where he fit in a world that had already demanded so much from him.

But something shifted that very first summer. Camp Sunrise offered a gentle and steady environment where he had room to breathe. Little by little, he opened up. What followed each year was a gradual but powerful transformation. Camp became the place where he began to feel like a kid again. It became familiar. Safe. A space where friendships felt real and where cancer did not define him.

Several people played a meaningful role in that shift. Eileen was one of the first. During his early summers, she stayed close, offering quiet reassurance that helped him feel seen and supported. Bob and Stumpy also made a lasting impact. They believed in Joe before he fully believed in himself, encouraging him to try new things, face his fears, and recognize his own strength. These were not casual camp friendships. They were connections that carried him through some of the hardest moments of his life.

Camp Sunrise gave Joe more than fun memories. It gave him independence. He learned to manage his medications on his own. He learned how to navigate social situations with growing confidence. He began discovering leadership skills and a sense of identity that had been buried under years of medical treatments and fear.

Last year, Joe completed his first Leader in Training program. For those who watched his journey, it was a moment that showed how far he had come.

Today, Joe is a freshman in college. Even with a busy schedule and a new chapter unfolding, he continues to support Camp Sunrise through annual fundraising. Giving back feels personal to him, because camp helped rebuild parts of him that medicine alone could not reach.

Joe’s story is a reminder that healing rarely happens alone. It happens in community. It happens in connection. And it happens in places like Camp Sunrise, where kids learn they are stronger, braver, and more capable than they ever knew.