Barretstown
Encyclopedia
Barretstown is a not for profit camp for children with cancer and other serious illnesses located at Barretstown Castle
, Ballymore Eustace
, Co. Kildare
, in Ireland
. It was founded in 1994 by Hollywood actor Paul Newman
and it is part of the organisation of Hole in the Wall Camps
.
The children, aged from seven to 17, come from Ireland
and more than twenty other European countries to take part in the wide range of activities the camp provides such as arts and crafts, canoeing and outdoor adventure. After successfully overcoming the initial challenge of these activities, the children stop seeing themselves as ‘sick kids’ and begin to regain their own inner strength, confidence and self-esteem. This process is known as ‘Therapeutic Recreation'.
A 2009 study in the Irish Journal of Sociology by Professor Peter J. Kearney at University College Cork suggests that the Barretstown experience is “a life-enhancing ritual process and an important social experience in chronic severe childhood illnesses.” The study describes how the camps focus on 'Therapeutic Recreation' positively impacts upon a child with its cyclical model of Challenge, Success, Reflection and Discovery. By getting comfortable in the protected and safe camp environment, the children begin to realise their previously unrecognised potential, through meeting the challenges with success, which has an enormous effect on their confidence and self-esteem.
A 2005 study on children who attended Barretstown found that the majority of children noted an improvement in their social skills after attending the camp. They acquired skills such as teamwork, cooperation, and friendship making. The children also reported acquiring practical and activity related skills through their success in the challenges. Most importantly, they learnt the importance of having fun and had acquired a more positive attitude to their illness as they realised they are not alone and that many other children also have similar conditions. These realisations and developments rebuild confidence and esteem that had been damaged in the children.
and Glanbia
.
Many of the participants in the annual Dublin Marathon
, which takes place on the last Monday in October each year take part in aid of Barretsown as it is one of the marathon's two designated charities, along with Special Olympics
Ireland.
Barretstown Castle
Barretstown Castle is a castle in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. It stands on the site of a late 12th century Anglo-Norman castle.-History:...
, Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin...
, Co. Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was founded in 1994 by Hollywood actor Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
and it is part of the organisation of Hole in the Wall Camps
Hole in the Wall Camps
The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps is a nonprofit organization that unites the world's largest family of camps for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. Hole in the Wall Camps are free of charge to all campers and their families regardless of their ability to pay and...
.
The children, aged from seven to 17, come from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and more than twenty other European countries to take part in the wide range of activities the camp provides such as arts and crafts, canoeing and outdoor adventure. After successfully overcoming the initial challenge of these activities, the children stop seeing themselves as ‘sick kids’ and begin to regain their own inner strength, confidence and self-esteem. This process is known as ‘Therapeutic Recreation'.
Benefits to Children's Health
While hospitals will endeavour to take care of the physical aspects of serious illness in a child, Barretstown plays a vital role in healing the effects of emotional scars.Therapeutic Recreation
The programme of ‘Therapeutic Recreation’ the camp provides is widely endorsed by many leading medical professionals in Ireland and abroad as having invaluable benefits to a child’s confidence and self-esteem and is recognised as being a vital part in their recovery from cancer and other serious illnesses.A 2009 study in the Irish Journal of Sociology by Professor Peter J. Kearney at University College Cork suggests that the Barretstown experience is “a life-enhancing ritual process and an important social experience in chronic severe childhood illnesses.” The study describes how the camps focus on 'Therapeutic Recreation' positively impacts upon a child with its cyclical model of Challenge, Success, Reflection and Discovery. By getting comfortable in the protected and safe camp environment, the children begin to realise their previously unrecognised potential, through meeting the challenges with success, which has an enormous effect on their confidence and self-esteem.
Rebuilding Confidence and Self-Esteem
The diagnosis of a serious illness at an early age, and the subsequent lengthy process of treatment and hospital visits are likely to result in a lack of confidence and self-esteem in most children. Barretstown helps to rebuild their confidence and esteem.A 2005 study on children who attended Barretstown found that the majority of children noted an improvement in their social skills after attending the camp. They acquired skills such as teamwork, cooperation, and friendship making. The children also reported acquiring practical and activity related skills through their success in the challenges. Most importantly, they learnt the importance of having fun and had acquired a more positive attitude to their illness as they realised they are not alone and that many other children also have similar conditions. These realisations and developments rebuild confidence and esteem that had been damaged in the children.
Fundraising
Barretstown is a non-profit charitable organisation and provides these services free of charge to all of the children that attend the camps. To do this, they must raise almost €5 million annually to cover their costs. The majority of the money comes from voluntary sources including individual donors, events and corporate supporters. One example of their fundraising efforts is the annual “Big Picnic for Barretstown” which is supported by Avonmore. They also have a number of large corporate supporters including GlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
and Glanbia
Glanbia
Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
.
Many of the participants in the annual Dublin Marathon
Dublin Marathon
The Dublin Marathon is an annual marathon in Dublin, Ireland, normally held on the last Monday in October, which is a public holiday in Ireland. Held each year since 1980, in 2007 there were about 11,000 race participants, half of whom were from overseas....
, which takes place on the last Monday in October each year take part in aid of Barretsown as it is one of the marathon's two designated charities, along with Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
Ireland.
Volunteers
Barretstown, like most non-profit organisations relies on volunteers in order to run their camps. They require around 700 volunteers annually to help in the provision of camp services. Volunteers in Barretstown are known as “Cara's”, which is the Irish word for friend. The “Cara's” play a key role in supporting and encouraging the children to participate in the various activities in the camp.External links
- Barretstown Official Website barretstown.org
- Association of Hole in the Wall Camps holeinthewallcamps.org