Crime & Safety

Relaying For Charity

Peninsula fire departments raise money for burn survivors.

Millbrae Firefighters raised $3,500 and volunteered their time to help child burn survivors enjoy their summers.

Firefighters from several peninsula stations held a procession on Sept. 2 from Moffett Field to San Francisco. About 25 fire trucks and cars, some of them antiques, blared sirens as they stopped in each city's firehouse, including Millbrae's, to collect checks from each department, raising a total of $76,802. The money benefits the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation that sponsors Champ Camp, a summer camp held each year in the Sierra foothills for burn-injured children.

"Kids are so resilient, you learn so much as an adult from these children," said Jennifer Price, Millbrae firefighter and 1994 camp counselor. 

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The week-long camp is usually held the second week in June in Wonder Valley, about 45 miles east of Fresno. The camp started in 1986 and welcomes children 5-16 every year to kayak, horseback ride, swim and partake in other typical camp activities with other burned children.

"It helped me grow as a person and raised my self-esteem," said Camp Counselor Kamikaze, Leah Knopf. 

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She first attended Champ Camp as a 12-year-old camper and has been going every year since. 

The camp hosts about 150 children with the help of 70 -80 counselors. Statewide, the foundation raises about $120,000 every year needed to run the camp.

"Companies don't donate like they used to," said Mike Gonzales, president of the board of directors and retired South San Francisco firefighter. However, lower contributions haven't affected Champ Camp.

The Millbrae Fire Department sells t-shirts at the Millbrae Art and Wine Festival and hosts barbecues and pancake breakfasts throughout the year to raise money for the camp.

"We went to a water park, and it had the best slide, and it was really fun," said first-year camper Chloe, 8. Her mom said she didn't want to come home.

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation also hosts two weekend retreats. One for young adults 16-20 and another for adults. Many are veterans of Champ Camp.

In addition to summer camps, AARBF also sponsors burn prevention education programs, education grants to burn survivors and hospitalization financial assistance.

 

 

 


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