For many people, coping with the fact that a loved one has just been diagnosed with cancer or has passed away from cancer can be draining.

But a group of Richmond students works to bring hope, smiles and magic back to dozens of children by fundraising to send the children of parents who have or have had cancer to a week-long sleepaway camp, for free.

Camp Kesem is a national organization with 24 chapters across the United States that was founded at Stanford University in 2000. The original group consisted of members of Hillel at Stanford, a Jewish college campus organization with chapters around the world.

They chose the word Kesem because it means “magic” in Hebrew.

Though there is no religious affiliation with Camp Kesem, Richmond chapter co-chairwoman Kristen Qutub said that the goal of the organization was to make the magic for the campers who had endured these hardships.
“In doing that, we have the magic that they give us back,” she said.

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From “The Collegian” (University of Richmond)