Childhood should be a time of discovery and joy. Kids should be free to learn, explore, and enjoy themselves alongside their peers. Unfortunately, for those suffering from chronic illness or disabilities, this is too often a far-flung dream.
A boy who requires regular dialysis typically isn’t going to be able to attend summer camp. A girl going through chemotherapy won’t ordinarily have the chance to go on a fishing trip. A child with muscular dystrophy won’t ordinarily be able to go out on a rafting trip.
That’s where The Center for Courageous Kids (CCK) comes in. A nonprofit founded in 2008, CCK has to date enriched the lives of 36,000 children and their families, serving over 45 states and 13 foreign countries. Every year, thousands more join that roster, enjoying activities that would otherwise be forever beyond their reach.
Empowerment is at the heart of CCK’s mission. Funded entirely by its donors and partners, CCK hosts nine week-long camps each year. Activities encompass virtually everything you might expect to see at a summer camp, including archery, horseback riding, climbing, rafting, and more.
Perhaps more importantly, CCK is also about building communities. Attendees get to see firsthand that they aren’t alone. There are others like them, others suffering from the same ailments and experiencing the same struggles.
Finally, the nonprofit allows parents to reconnect with one another. The experience of caring for a chronically ill child can put a strain on any relationship. The ability to have even a little bit of time together — a little bit of time where they needn’t worry about their child — can be an incredible boon.
CCK keeps its campers safe and secure via its $20 million state-of-the-art campus, which hosts an on-site, 24-hour medical center that includes a pharmacy and helipad. Staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses, the medical facility provides virtually every type of care a medically-fragile child might require. If all else fails, the facility is also situated just a mile from the nearest emergency room.
Best of all, however, is the fact that CCK offers all of this completely free of charge. A family that wishes to give their child a chance just to be a kid doesn’t have to pay a cent. It’s admirable work — and BlueCotton is honored to be one of CCK’s valued partners.
We’ve been working with CCK since the early 2010s, providing quality custom shirts for campers, parents, and volunteers alike. We don’t simply send clothes to the organization, though. We also regularly participate in CCK’s camps, volunteering our time and enjoying what the camp offers.
Because as we’ve said before, our customers are more than sales leads to us — they’re valued partners, and we’re honored to help them spread their message and change the world.