All of us, once in a while, need to take a break from life and just get away… But imagine what it’s like for those who have a child impacted by cancer. The anxiety and heartache is difficult to imagine.

That’s where Camp Quality comes in.

Since 1983, Camp Quality has been providing support to Australian children with cancer and their families, free of charge to whoever needs it. Underscored by the philosophy ‘laughter is the best medicine’ (encapsulated by their logo), Camp Quality provides programs and services that give children impacted by cancer – whether that be their own diagnosis or that of a sibling or primary caregiver –  every opportunity to thrive.

Camp Quality is there for children and their families, from the first experience of cancer through every stage from treatment to remission, as well as in the case of bereavement – in hospital, at home, at school, and even ‘away from it all’.

As part of their ‘away from it all’ program, Camp Quality invites families to retreats, providing them with an opportunity to create happy memories in an environment not centred on sickness. Camp Quality has four retreats, one of which – Joan Peterson House at Salamander Bay, New South Wales – was bequeathed by Joan Peterson through her Trust. Equity Trustees, which manage Joan’s Trust, established a five-year partnership with Camp Quality to refurbish the coastal property into “a special haven for families of children who have relapsed, are palliative or are heartbreakingly bereaved”.

Since 2015, around 50 families a year have been able to spend time at Joan Peterson House free of charge, complete with wrap-around services as needed.

The Pearce family are one of those families. When five-year-old Mia was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, it put the family under immense financial and emotional strain. At Camp Quality they were able to spend five rejuvenating days at Salamander Bay.

“There are no words to describe our joy in seeing Mia enjoy every single moment of our retreat, it’s a special memory that we will all treasure,” she said.

“Mia was all smiles from the moment she boarded the plane. From cruising sand dunes on camels, to dolphin spotting out at sea, we are so thankful of Camp Quality and their supporters for giving our family the greatest gift possible at such a time – normality and lots of fun in a peaceful environment.”

Equity Trustees is proud to be associated with Camp Quality’s wonderful work and to support the retreat program through our philanthropy granting program, giving families like the Pearces opportunities to reconnect and enjoy life during a cancer experience.

For more information please visit the Camp Quality website.