Generous Donor Supports North Texas's Only Adult Cancer Camp

Every spring and fall, 24 campers and 24 volunteer "buddies" head to a ranch in east Texas to relax and recharge, make new friends and support each other in the one experience they all share: cancer.

During the three-day, two-night getaway, campers at the Bluebonnet Retreat take a break from the everyday burdens of their cancer diagnosis to enjoy arts and crafts, fishing, luaus, and other activities. The camp is free, and anyone—male or female—aged 18 and older who has received a cancer diagnosis in the past five years can apply to attend. It's also the only adult cancer camp of its kind in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Cindy O'Harra has been volunteering as a buddy at the Bluebonnet Retreat for more than nine years, and through her love of the retreat and its purpose decided to give more than just her time. She recently made a generous gift to the Bluebonnet Retreat endowment to help extend the life of the retreat.

"You go once to the retreat and you're hooked," Cindy shares. "An endowment is forever, but as costs have increased over time, it is necessary to expand the fund so that it can continue to support the future long-term needs of the camp."

For Cindy, the Bluebonnet Retreat tugs on a personal heartstring. She lost her husband in 2000 after a seven-year battle with prostate cancer. As a way of giving back, she began volunteering in the oncology unit at her local community hospital, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford, receiving the Volunteer of the Year award in 2016. This led into serving on the hospital's auxiliary board and as fundraising chair. But a true "life-changing experience" for Cindy has been her time spent at the Bluebonnet Retreat.

She plans to also give an estate gift to the Texas Health Resources Foundation earmarked for Bluebonnet Retreat. "I can't think of a better place to give my money to," she says.

The Bluebonnet Retreat has been a special project of Texas Health HEB since 1994 and is supported by the community and Texas Health employees through donations. It is also sustained through an endowment that was established in 1997 so that the camp would always continue, free of charge.

If you would like to make a planned gift to the Texas Health Resources Foundation to fund programs such as the Bluebonnet Retreat, contact The Foundation Office at 682-236-5200 or WendyGilbert@TexasHealth.orgg.