Funds Needed to Send Kids with Epilepsy to Summer Camp

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

GUTHRIE, Oklahoma -- The recession has taken a real toll on some charities including the Epilepsy Foundation. A lack of money could keep some Oklahoma children with epilepsy from making summertime memories.

For Daniel Johnson and Kyle Bratcher, fishing brings back fun memories of summer camp. Kyle remembers the time he caught something besides a fish.

"Then, I got a turtle," Kyle said.

Daniel remembers his favorite counselor.

"Caleb…he's really cool. He was playing in the swimming pool. We was there first and he started squirting me with a squirt gun," Daniel said.

The boys spent time last summer at Make Promises Happen, a camp in Guthrie for children and adults with special needs. They came the week set aside for children with epilepsy.

"It's really about him getting to do things that he doesn't get to with us every day," said Sandy Bratcher, Kyle's mom.

Sandy Bratcher admits with his medical needs it's hard leaving him at camp for a week, but he loves it.

"Let him come out for a week and be in a natural environment and do what some kids do every day when they go out in their backyard," Kyle's mom said.

"It's nice to help kids. This is an opportunity for them to be normal. This is an opportunity to be with their peers with other kids that are similar to them," said Daniel Starling, a camp volunteer nurse.

In years past, the Epilepsy Foundation paid for the kids to come to camp. But with the economic downturn, the foundation lost its funding.

"At this point, there is no camp for children with epilepsy. And our goal is to find the funding so we can step in and keep it going," said James Wheeler with Make Promises Happen.

There is an effort to raise the money, but if the goal isn't met, kids like Daniel and Kyle won't go to camp this summer.

"It's horrible...Just not being able to come for a summer and even the parents, to not have that time they get to have a break. It is a pretty sad," Starling said.

Kids need $15,000 so they can go to camp. Learn more about the camp and how you can make a donation or call 405-282-2811.