MARQUETTE — Camp Quality Michigan serves children with cancer and their families by providing year-round programs at no cost to enhance quality of life. Camps are held in Fenton, Luther, Beaver Island and Lapeer — all below the bridge. However, Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay and Camp Quality are working to potentially host a week-long camp for the summer of 2021, providing services to Upper Peninsula pediatric cancer patients.

Single District 10 Lions will host a Camp Quality Meet and Greet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14 at the Marquette Commons in Marquette where family members affected by cancer, potential volunteers and community members can hear more about what Camp Quality does. This will be an opportunity to see how many pediatric cancer patients are out there and decide whether a summer week camp at Bay Cliff would be an option, Single District 10 Lions Pediatric Cancer Chairman Christine A. Smith said.

“We want to introduce the concept of Camp Quality to the U.P. and hopefully with this event we can reach out to children with cancer and their families, children and families who have been affected in the past, health care professionals, volunteers and anyone who has an interest in this cause,” Smith said. “If all goes well, we would like to offer an overnight Camp Quality experience at Bay Cliff sometime in the fall of 2020.”

The goal for the meet and greet is to recruit approximately 15 kids to attend the overnight camp in the fall. Located 27 miles northwest of Marquette, Bay Cliff provides therapy and is a wellness center serving the needs of children and adults living with disabilities.

“Something important to remember is that children with cancer in the U.P. do have to travel downstate or to Wisconsin for MD appointments, treatment and any type of involvement with this type of experience,” Smith said. “We would like to think that this opportunity could be offered to eastern Wisconsin children and their families too.”

LCI is an organization whose mission is “to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs,” according to LCI’s website. Over 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year with Michigan ranked sixth in diagnoses, according to LCI’s website. The World Health Organization launched a global initiative for pediatric cancer in 2018, and LCI has since joined that initiative.

Smith’s role as Single District 10 Lions Pediatric Cancer chairman for the U.P. includes tasks such as inspiring fellow Lions to support the pediatric cancer initiative, learn how pediatric cancer is impacting the U.P., assessing the needs of local children and their families and formalizing partnerships with other pediatric cancer organizations.

“The reason that I am doing this is because those children inspired me to continue to give. Children are the most genuine hard working individuals in the world. They are the future. I just want to make a difference,” Smith said.

In addition to Camp Quality, Single District 10 Lions has two other nonprofit initiatives that offer services to cancer children and their families: Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids and Kids Kicking Cancer.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.