Special Love

Valentine's Cookie Decorating
2024-02-10 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us and our friend Gina Parcells as we freshen up on our decorating skills with Valentine’s Cookies!
Saturday Feb. 10th, at 11am via Zoom!
Register here!

BRASS Weekend 2024
2024-03-01 - 2024-03-03 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
BRASS Weekend, March 1-3, 2024, is back at the 4H Center!

Join us for a weekend full of fun!
Open to brothers and sisters ages 7-17 who have a sibling with cancer within 5 years of their off treatment date as well as bereaved siblings.

Register now!

Under 7 Family Day 2024
2024-04-20 | Frying Pan Park, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA, 20171, United States
Join us for this fun-filled day of outside fun and arts and crafts on the farm! And parents, join us for a separate time JUST FOR YOU!
Open to patients and survivors under 7 and their families!
More information to come!

Parents Day
2024-05-11 12:00 - 16:00 | Barrel Oaks Winery, 3623 Grove Ln, Delaplane, VA, 20144, United States
Parents, a day just for you – to sip, snack, and socialize! Get away for the day at Barrel Oak Winery.
Register for this day just for you here!

Summer Family Day
2024-05-18 | Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States
Summer Family Day is a fun-filled gathering for all present (and future) Special Love families. We’ll have everything from face painters, balloon artists, zip-lining, crafts, and outdoor games.. Food and friendship are of course on the menu. It’s a can’t-miss time for families who’ve together weathered one of the most grueling events a family can face – a child battling cancer – to come together and heal.
Event Location: Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Register today!

Virtual Chain Making with RAAM Team One Life
2024-05-19 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Do you like riding a bike? How would you like to ride it 3000 miles?! Fortunately, you don’t have to – our friends at Team One Life are going to do it for you!
Join us on May 19th at 4 pm on Zoom to learn about the Race Across America and Team One Life. They will be riding their bikes across the country to raise money and awareness for Special Love.
We’ll also be sending paper chain links that you can decorate during the Zoom session. Then you’ll send them back to us at the Special Love office so we can join them into a long chain that Team One Life will carry on their ride across the country, posing for photos along the way! We’ll even send you a link you can use to track their progress.
Open to all cancer patients, siblings, AND friends – sign up today here!

The Wonders of Weather Virtual Program
2024-06-20 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
Join us and our friends at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, as we discover the wonder of weather through hands-on weather activities and experiments!
We’ll make instant snow, tornados in a bottle, and a rain cloud in a jar! It’s all courtesy of our friends at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.
Supplies included!
Register here!

Special Love Golf Tournament 2024
2024-06-28 | Rock Harbor Golf Course, 365 Rock Harbor Drive, Winchester, VA, 22602, United States
Join us on June 28, 2024 for a spectacular golf outing at Rock Harbor Golf Club in Winchester, VA. You have a choice of an 8 am or 1:30 pm tee time (or both!) with a separate awards reception for each.
We promise a great fun-filled day with friends while supporting children with cancer. Your donation will have a direct and lasting impact on the life of a pediatric cancer patient and support Camp Fantastic 2024!
Register online here or please remit payment and form to Special Love, Inc. 158 Front Royal Pike, Suite 311, Winchester, VA 22602. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Aaron Andrews or call 888-930-2707.
For volunteer opportunities, please contact Luke Child.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Title Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors
Eric & Monica Hanson

Beverage Cart Sponsors

BRASS Camp 2024
2024-07-21 - 2024-07-27 | Camp Maria Retreat Center, 41290 Camp Maria Road, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
BRASS Camp (BRothers And SiSters Camp)
Our annual salute to siblings is back! We’ll convene on July 21-27 at Camp Maria in Leonardtown, MD, for a week of fun, friendship, and adventure. The venue sits on the edge of Breton Bay (part of the Chesapeake Bay) so fishing, crabbing, and canoeing are part of the fun. There’s also a pool for swimming, campfires, and loads of sports and crafts. It’s all open to campers 7-17 who have a brother or sister within 5 years of treatment (or 7 years of a bone marrow transplant), as well as bereaved sibs. Older teens are eligible to be CITs (counselors-in-training).
BRASS Camp 2024
Cancer siblings, you don’t want to miss BRASS camp. A week where you can come and just be yourself.
We are so excited to be back at camp this year.
Open to brothers and sisters ages 7-17 who have a sibling with cancer within 5 years of their off treatment date as well as bereaved siblings.
Special Love’s COVID-19 Policy Applies for all in-person programs.
Download Registration Packet here!

Camp Fantastic 2024
2024-08-04 - 2024-08-10 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Camp Fantastic (for patients/survivors)
Our hallmark program is a week-long adventure for 7-17 patients and survivors who are within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant). Medical care is provided on-site so campers can focus on fun – a ropes course, canoeing, swimming, cooking, sports, and more! Teens have exclusive lodging and programming and 16 and 17-year-olds can participate in our LIT (leaders in training) group.
While the details for camp and our precautionary COVID measures are still evolving, we’re proceeding under the belief that camp in some form will definitely happen.
All cancer patients ages 7-17 within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant) are eligible.
Special Love’s COVID-19 Policy applies to all in-person programs.
Download Registration Packet here!

Family Day at Williamsburg Campground 2024
2024-09-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Williamsburg Campground, 4000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23188, United States
Join us for Family Day at the Williamsburg Campground. Arts and crafts, games, food, and fun for the whole family, and its all free! The day runs from 10am-3pm (but you can stick around and swim if you would like). We cannot wait to spend the day with our families from this area.
Register for this fun day here!

Special Love's Annual Gala 2024
2024-09-20 18:00 - 23:00 | Hilton Mclean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr, Mclean, 22102
Join us and experience the excitement of Carnivale!
Special Love’s Annual Gala will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Hilton-Tyson’s Corner, in support of children with cancer and their families.
The evening will feature festive pieces of Carnivale along with cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and the opportunity to learn from families about the important role Special Love has played in their cancer journey.
For more information about this event and how you can be involved click here

Octoberfest Family Weekend 2024
2024-10-11 - 2024-10-13 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Hold onto your haunted hats, we’re going back to the Northern Virginia 4-H Center, home of the very first family weekend, for more fun at Octoberfest Family Weekend on October 11-13!
We’ll have jack-o-lanterns, canoeing, haunted hikes, and spooky campfires + food, stargazing, and more! It’s all open to families of patients, survivors, and sibs ages 17 and under who are within 7 years of treatment or bereaved.
Registration is now open! Click here

Squishy Circuits Virtual Program with SVDM
2024-10-23 16:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
Join us and our friends at Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum on October 23rd at 4:30 p.m!

In the virtual program, you will have the opportunity to explore circuits and electricity, while also using your creativity to make light-up creations using conductive modeling dough. We’ll start the session creating a basic paper circuit using conductive tape and LED’s. Then we’ll move on to playing with squishy circuits, where you can make your sculptures come to life using the magic (science!) of electricity.

Here’s the squishy circuit website if you want more of a visual idea: https://squishycircuits.com/

The program is most appropriate for 7-12-year-olds, but younger or older siblings may follow along. Supplies will be provided on a space available basis.

Registration is open here!

Young Survivors Forum - Moving Forward 2024
2024-11-02 10:00 - 17:00 | Hilton Hotel McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA, 22102, United States
The Young Survivors and Patients Forum is a dynamic event designed for young adult cancer survivors and current patients, offering a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. Participants will hear from inspiring speakers, engage in meaningful discussions, and access valuable resources that address the challenges faced by those navigating life after cancer. Whether you’re looking for emotional support, practical advice, or simply the chance to connect with others who understand your journey, the forum provides a supportive space to help you thrive beyond your diagnosis. Join us to empower your future and take the next step forward. Cancer patients and survivors, ages 18-40, are invited to attend with a support person of their choosing to this one-day informative and interactive forum on:
Saturday, November 2, 2024
from 10AM-5PM
at the Hilton Hotel, Tysons Corner
Lunch will be provided
After the Forum, we’re all heading to Bowlero for an evening of bowling and laughter until 8 PM. It’s the perfect chance to unwind, connect with new friends, and show off your skills on the lanes. Dinner is on us, so bring your energy, your support person, and get ready to strike up some fun! Dinner and bowling will be provided until 8PM.
Click here to register!

Tentative Event Agenda:

Moving Forward:

10:00am – Welcome
Jan Bresch, Executive Director, Special Love, Inc.
Aziza T. Shad, M.D.
Ellen W.P. Wasserman Chair of Pediatrics
Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai
Director, Kara Amey Cancer Survivorship Program

10:15am – 11:25am Keynote – Getting Your Groove Back and Sexual Health
Sage Bolte, PhD, MSW, LSCW, President Inova Health Foundation
Tamika Felder, Founder, Cervivor, Inc.

11:25 am – 5-minute Break

11:30 am – The Importance of Coming to Clinic
Aziza T. Shad, M.D.
Ellen W.P. Wasserman Chair of Pediatrics
Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai
Director, Kara Amey Cancer Survivorship Program

12:15pm – 1:15pm Lunch

1:15pm – 2:30pm Art Therapy Project
Danielle Eichner, MA, ATR-BC, LCPC, The Herman Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital, Sinai

2:30pm – 5-minute Break

Breakout Sessions – 2:35pm-3:35pm

Legal Resources for School & Career – Melanie Grant, Staff Attorney, Triage Cancer
Adulting 101 for Survivorship – Shweta Bansil, MD, Pediatric Specialists of Virginia

3:35pm – 5-minute Break

Breakout sessions – 3:40pm – 4:40pm

Managing Medical Bills – Melanie Grant, Staff Attorney, Triage Cancer
Courageous Conversations – Lori Wiener, PhD, DCSW, LSWC-C, National Institutes of Health

Devon Ciampa, Clinical Therapist

4:40pm – 5-minute Break

4:45pm – Closing

Holiday Party
2024-12-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl street SW, Washington, DC, DC, 20024
Special Love’s annual Holiday Party is a kick-off for our families to what we hope will be a great holiday season. It’s also a chance thank our wonderful donors and volunteers who make everything Special Love does possible.
Held at Pearl Street Warehouse in Washington, DC, the party provides fun activities for the whole family. Whether young or old, attendees enjoy a fantastic lunch, amazing face painters, balloon artists, arts and crafts, and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap.
REGISTER HERE

Holiday Cookie Decorating
2024-12-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
We’re excited to announce our next virtual activity – Holiday Cookie Decorating on Saturday, December 14th, at 11:00 am. Join us on Zoom for cookie decorating, holiday trivia, and more!
The session is open to patients, survivors, and sibs ages 17-and-Under andsupplies are included, courtesy of SmileyCookie.com.
The supplies will need to be mailed soon, so use the button below to sign up no later than November 18th.
Register here

Special Love's Winter Weekend
2025-01-17 - 2025-01-20 | Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center, 230 Main Lodge Road, Davis, VA, 26260, United States
Join us for Winter Weekend!
Open to families of patients and survivors who are 17-and-under and on or within 5 years of treatment, as well as bereaved families. Patients and survivors ages 18-25 may attend by themselves and will room with other young adults.
Register here

Virtual Valentine's Bingo
2025-02-11 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
Join us for Virtual Valentine’s Bingo on Feb. 11th at 4:30 pm on Zoom. We’ll have prizes for the winners and all supplies will be provided. We had so much fun at Winter Weekend, our hosts are returning to host this fun virtual program!

Register here!

BRASS Weekend 2025
2025-03-21 - 2025-03-23 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Come be part of a weekend full of fun, friendship, and springtime adventures!
Here’s what we have planned:

Cozy campfires
Creative crafts
Fun-filled games
Lots of opportunities to connect and make lasting memories

Who Can Join? We welcome brothers and sisters ages 7–17 who:

Have a sibling with cancer (within 5 years of completing treatment)
Bereaved Siblings

We can’t wait to spend this special weekend with you! Register now before it’s too late!
Register Here!

Under 7 Family Day 2025
2025-04-05 | Frying Pan Park, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA, 20171, United States
Join us for this fun-filled day of outside fun and arts and crafts on the farm!
Open to patients and survivors under 7 and their families!
Registration is now open!

Parents Day at Barrel Oak Winery
2025-04-12 | Barrel Oaks Winery, 3623 Grove Ln, Delaplane, VA, 20144, United States
✨ Parents’ Day at Barrel Oak Winery! 🍷🥂
Calling all parents! Take a well-deserved break and join us for Sip, Snack, Socialize at Barrel Oak Winery. Enjoy delicious wine, tasty bites, and great company—all while soaking in the beautiful vineyard views.
Registration is now open!

Virtual Paper Pal Party: A Caricature Crafting Experience
2025-04-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Get ready to bring your creativity to life! Join us on Saturday, April 26th at 10 AM for a fun and interactive virtual craft session where we’ll be making whimsical caricatures out of construction paper. No drawing skills required—just your imagination!
📅 Date: Saturday, April 26th⏰ Time: 10 AM (EST)💻 Where: Online (link provided upon registration)
Materials will be supplied!Let’s craft some unique paper portraits together! 🎭✨
Open to ALL Special Love families!
📢 Register here!
#PaperPortraits #CreativeCrafting #CaricatureFun #VirtualWorkshop

Summer Family Day 2025
2025-05-10 10:00 - 15:00 | Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States
Summer Family Day is a fun-filled gathering for all present (and future) Special Love families. We’ll have everything from face painters, balloon artists, zip-lining, crafts, and outdoor games.. Food and friendship are of course on the menu. It’s a can’t-miss time for families who’ve together weathered one of the most grueling events a family can face – a child battling cancer – to come together and heal.
Event Location: Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Registration is now open! Register here.

Ride For A Reason 2025
2025-05-17 09:00 - 14:00 | Winchester Elks Lodge, 466 Front Royal Pike, Winchester, VA, 22602, United States
Since 1983, Special Love has provided a community of support for children with cancer and their families through free camps and adventure programs, emergency financial assistance, educational scholarships, and virtual programs. This charity motorcycle ride helps to raise funds to benefit those families!

Join us @ Winchester Elks Lodge – May 17th, 2025 – Opens 9am – Kickstands up 11am
50/50 & Raffle – Live DJ – Food & Beverages Available at Elks Pavillion
$20/Rider – (Includes T-Shirt) *Passengers – $10 *Extra Shirts- $10
Start & End Point – Winchester Elks #867 466 Front Royal Pike Winchester, VA
To register or for sponsorship information click here.
Find Release Waiver for ride here
Questions or want to become a sponsor? email kweist@specialove.org or call 540.550.1600

Special Love Golf Tournament 2025
2025-06-06 | Rock Harbor Golf Course, 365 Rock Harbor Drive, Winchester, VA, 22602, United States
SPECIAL LOVE 2025 GOLF TOURNAMENT
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025
ROCK HARBOR GOLF COURSE
365 ROCK HARBOR DRIVE – WINCHESTER, VA 22602
🏌️‍♂️ Tournament Details:
✔️ 9:00 AM shotgun start
✔️ Exciting raffle drawings & 50/50
✔️ Unlimited beverage service
✔️ Delicious lunch catered by Rock Harbor Grill
OUR 2025 GOLF TOURNAMENT IS SOLD OUT!
We can’t wait to see you on the course!
Interested in volunteering? Click here.
For more information or questions, contact Kelly Weist or call 888-930-2707.

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!
Title Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors
Kern Motor Company, Shockey Companies, Dewberry Engineering, Potomac Valley Brick, Paradigm Contractors, Mountaineer Popcorn
Hole Sponsors
Guy’s GMC Inc., B&M Painting Inc., Weichert Realtors, Kubic Construction Inc., Express Employment Professionals, TWG Insurance, Main Spring IT, Bowman Williams, Mint Mortgage, Pest Exit, Premier Home and Lawncare, BNI Main Street Connections, Fraternal Order of the Eagles Winchester Aerie No. 824

In-Kind Sponsors
Costco, Hang 10 CarWash, Nerangis, Alamo

Beverage Cart Sponsors

Valet Sponsor

BRASS Camp 2025
2025-07-13 - 2025-07-19 | Camp Maria Retreat Center, 41290 Camp Maria Road, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
BRASS Camp (BRothers And SiSters Camp)
Our annual salute to siblings is back! We’ll convene on July 13-19 at Camp Maria in Leonardtown, MD, for a week of fun, friendship, and adventure. The venue sits on the edge of Breton Bay (part of the Chesapeake Bay) so fishing, crabbing, and canoeing are part of the fun. There’s also a pool for swimming, campfires, and loads of sports and crafts. It’s all open to campers 7-17 who have a brother or sister within 5 years of treatment (or 7 years of a bone marrow transplant), as well as bereaved sibs. Older teens are eligible to be CITs (counselors-in-training).
Camp dates: July 13-19, 2025
Applications Open Now!
Cancer siblings, you don’t want to miss BRASS camp. A week where you can come and just be yourself.
We are so excited to be back at camp this year.
Open to brothers and sisters ages 7-17 who have a sibling with cancer within 5 years of their off treatment date as well as bereaved siblings.
Register here!

Camp Fantastic 2025
2025-08-03 - 2025-08-09 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Camp Fantastic 2025 Registration Is Open!
Camp Fantastic (August 3-9, 2025) is our hallmark program—a week-long, medically supported summer adventure for kids ages 7–17 who are within 5 years of cancer treatment (or 7 years post bone marrow transplant). With on-site medical care, campers can focus on what matters most: having fun. From canoeing and swimming to cooking, ropes courses, and sports, every activity is tailored to help kids rediscover joy, confidence, and friendship.
Teens enjoy exclusive programming and lodging, and 16–17 year-olds can join our LIT (Leaders in Training) group to grow their leadership skills.
🎉 Registration is now open! We can’t wait to welcome our campers back for another unforgettable summer.
Register for camp here!

Family Day at Williamsburg Campground 2025
2025-09-13 | Williamsburg Campground, 4000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23188, United States
Register now for Family Day at the Williamsburg Campground. Arts and crafts, games, food, and fun for the whole family, and it’s all free! The day runs from 10am-3pm (but you can stick around and swim if you would like). We cannot wait to spend the day with our families from this area.
Register for this day of fun here!
More About Williamsburg Campground Here

Octoberfest Weekend 2025
2025-10-10 - 2025-10-12 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Hold onto your haunted hats and save the date for Octoberfest, we’re going back to the Northern Virginia 4-H Center, home of the very first family weekend, for more fun at Octoberfest Family Weekend on October 10-12!
We’ll have jack-o-lanterns, canoeing, haunted hikes, and spooky campfires + food, stargazing, and more! It’s all open to families of patients, survivors, and sibs ages 17 and under who are within 5 years of treatment or bereaved.
