News
Camp Created Beautiful Memories
Camp Created Beautiful Memories for the Florin Family The Florin family made camp a priority and created beautiful memories together. Just one month shy of his first birthday, Peter was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer that affects only 4 in every 1,000,000...
Parents’ Getaway Weekend 2018
November 17-18, 2018 Parents' Getaway 2018 was a huge success! Hosted at the Historic George Washington Hotel in Winchester, Virginia, Parents’ Getaway Weekend is dedicated to parents who have a child with cancer or are bereaved and is organized by...
Special Love Welcomes Director of Development, Kim Jappell
Special Love welcomes Kim Jappell as its newest Director of Development. Jappell is a familiar face around the organization as she grew up in Special Love’s BRASS program for cancer siblings and was a member of its Board of Directors prior to accepting her new...
What I Can Do
Kristen Kellar-Graney, M.S., Tumor Biologist and Clinical Researcher – and Special Love Pop-Up Camp Guru! A borrowed quote: Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. As a tumor biologist, I cannot take away the fear a parent has learning that their...
The “Amazingness” of Camp: An Open Letter from Abby’s Parents
This July, we received the terrible news that no parent should ever hear: Our nine-year-old daughter Abby had just days to live. Almost two years ago, Abby’s treatment for her type of leukemia included a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. She’s been battling...
Life After Cancer
Chris Thomas, Camp Fantastic alum and Special Love volunteer... Earlier this month Special Love held its Reunion Weekend which has always been one of my favorite events. I’ve been part of the Special Love family for something like 27 years now and in that time I’ve...
Listen to the Music in My Heart
Julia Jones, Special Love counselor and former camper (Wilm’s tumor) ... For one week every summer, I get to go to camp. Camp is my happy place. This camp is called Camp Fantastic…. In 1998, I was a camper at Camp Fantastic, and Special Love has been a part of my life...
In Joyful Defiance of Their Cancer
Christopher Barnett, MD, Special Love volunteer ... Last night was the Camp Fantastic talent show. About halfway through, a camper came onto stage to perform “holding breath.” He took a big breath in and held it while we all counted to 30, and the audience went crazy...
Teens & Young Adults – Make Your Winter FANTASTIC!
We're wrapping up our 33rd year of fun and friendship and now is the perfect time to reconnect with camp friends - and make new ones! Our annual Fantastic Winter Weekend for 13-25 year-old cancer survivors (and current patients) is on Jan. 8-10 at the No. VA...
Fall into Special Love!
Summer's over but the fun goes on! Octoberfest Family Weekend is coming on Oct. 9-11 and it's open to all families of children ages 17 and under who are within 5 years of cancer treatment. It includes parades, crafts, campfires, and more! Click here for the...