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Fantastic fun, food for children at 'Rappahannock Night'
For the past dozen years, local volunteers from Rappahannock County and the Lions Club sponsor “Rappahannock Night” at Camp Fantastic, a summer camp for about 100 young persons with cancer from ages seven to 17.This week-long gathering is held on the beautiful grounds of the 4-H Club Center high up in the Blue Ridge just south of Chester Gap. Along with the campers, there are numerous doctors and nurses from the National Institutes of Health, and many others who volunteer to give children and young adults with cancer a chance to enjoy normal childhood activities that healthy children often take for granted. “Dress” at these occasions is pure imagination and fun. Many of the children have huge hats and other headgear that hide the fact that they have lost their hair during chemotherapy treatments. Others have wild costumes from cartoon characters to create a fantasy world of imagination. The camp counselors often have outrageous costumes to entertain the kids—like the 4-H director who was dressed as “Captain America.” Two other muscular young counselors painted themselves green to pretend they were “The Incredible Hulk.”
Activities at Camp Fantastic included hiking, swimming, games, and other pleasures for kids. But “Rappahannock Night” is best known for its good food. The buffet line is always long as the children line up to have dinner with both popular and wholesome food prepared by Rappahannock volunteers. Pizza, fried chicken, tacos with many choice toppings, salad, fruit, and cookies topped the menu. Providing food for up to 125 people is no small undertaking and many Rappahannock restaurants and businesses each year donate food and supplies for this event.
The Rappahannock committee this year included Sandra Jenkins, Ester Settle, Jan Makela, Marie Davis, and Jim Blubaugh from the Lions Club. The co-coordinators of the event were Beverly Atkins and Jan Palmer.
“Everyone coming together like this to support a good cause is what makes me proud to live in Rappahannock,” said Jim Blubaugh, president of the Rappahannock Lions Club, as he enthusiastically reflected on the success of this year’s Camp Fantastic. “This was not especially for Rappahannock children but our people joined as a community and came up to the camp to create a very special occasion for youngsters from all over the area who are in need of special love and care.”
All are welcome to become volunteers or donate time and resources to future “Rappahannock Nights.” Any contributions are tax-deductible and, more importantly, support a very worthy cause. Persons who want to help or donate funds may contact Beverly Atkins at 675-5370 or Jim Blubaugh at 675-2001.
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