News Briefs

CAMPER HONORED AT WHEATIES NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - April 25, 2008.  Felicia S. is young lady learning how to cope with everything that becoming a teenager brings. With one exception… she is doing so in the context of arthrogryposis – a rare congenital disease that causes joints to contract. In the most common cases, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, feet and knees are affected. In the most severe cases, nearly every joint is involved including the jaws and back.

But Felicia never feels sorry that she can’t be a cheerleader.  Even though movement is difficult for her, she is learning to play the trombone at Holt Middle School in Fayetteville. Friday night she was honored at the Wheaties Night of Champions as Camp Barnabas' champion. This special event is part of the Razorfest weekend presented by Champions for Kids, an organization focused on strengthening nonprofits who serve kids.

At Camp Barnabas, we believe that people should be participants, not observers in life.  Everyone deserves the opportunity to choose to live their life to the fullest. Through every moment of camp we are intentional in helping people with special needs know that they have ability…they are not limited by what the world sees as disability. 

When we told Felicia we would like to honor her as a champion, she said she would do anything for Camp Barnabas because when she goes there, she feels normal. She doesn’t have to be afraid of looking stupid. The fear of looking and feeling stupid is something we can all remember from our adolescent years. But this young lady says at camp she knows she is safe. She’s just a normal kid at camp. She can do anything, nothing is beyond her reach.  

She understands what we believe in strongly at Camp Barnabas.... we believe everyone can do anything anywhere. Nothing is beyond reach regardless of the limitations placed by physical, mental or medical challenges. And Felicia, we're proud you've chosen to live your life to the fullest. Congratulations.