Childhood cancer survivor Celeste Lee may have missed out on physical education lessons in primary school, but she made up for them during Camp Sunshine, an event organised by CCF which was formerly known as Walking in Aid of Children (W.A.L.K).
Celeste was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age three but was in remission by the time she entered primary one. Even then, teachers were cautious about letting the seven-year-old join her classmates for sports and games, or even visits to the dentist. “My friends had fun and they got to pick up interpersonal and communication skills,” says Celeste, who described herself as a shy and soft-spoken child. Forced to watch from the sidelines, all she longed for was the opportunity to interact with her peers.
It was at the CCF camps, which she attended annually at her doctor’s recommendation, that she emerged from her shell. During the camp, Celeste made friends who had gone through similar experiences with cancer through team-building games and tele-matches.
Participating in the camp’s skits also helped Celeste overcome stage fright and build confidence. One year, she even played the lead role of Princess Jasmine in an Aladdin sketch, performing in a glittery pink costume made by her mother who was a seamstress.
“I found another side of happiness,” says Celeste, her face lighting up at the memory from over a decade ago.
These positive experiences spurred her to join CCF as a volunteer when she outgrew the children’s camps. In secondary three, she volunteered as a camp befriender, helping the youth committee plan the logistics, publicity and activities.
She also helped with the day-to-day running of the camps, interacting with the kids and taking care of them.
“We always try to provide positive encouragement and tell them that they are on the right track,” she says, reflecting on the same encouragement that she had received.
Celeste adds: “They may not realise it now, but hopefully when they grow up, they will want to help other kids with cancer forget about the pain of their treatment, and just enjoy themselves and have fun.”