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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Trip to camp ends with wish upon a star

By: Kristy Hoffman

Posted: 07/21/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Priscilla O'Reilly sent Vincent to camp thanks to the Sunshine Fund.

While standing outside a cabin at Camp Y on Thursday night, Vincent O'Reilly, 10, saw a shooting star zip across the sky. But it was not the star that made him feel lucky.

"I feel lucky that I got to even be at camp," he said as he sat next to his mother, Priscilla O'Reilly, in their St. James home. He still had on his camp T-shirt having just returned from Camp Y, located 34 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

The Sunshine Fund helped Vincent get the T-shirt as well as memories of new friends and adventures in the woods. Priscilla knows without the fund, none of that would have happened.

"Here, it's just me and my boys," she said, referring to her three young sons. "Myself, I'm looking for work right now, so with my budget, the fund helped out quite a bit."

Aside from seeing the outdoors and being able to participate in activities such as swimming and games, Priscilla wanted Vincent to go to camp to learn skills he will need as he transitions to middle school in September.

"By going to camp and exploring possibilities, Vincent made a new circle of friends," said Priscilla.

Vincent explained during his week-long trip, he learned to tackle goals he had been afraid to try -- such as going on a zipline.

"You had to climb up this pole, to get to this platform, and then there's this person that hooks you on," he said excitedly. "And I was kind of scared to go down, so when I went down, I closed my eyes and then when I lowered down a bit, I opened them."

Vincent also learned how to use a GPS tracker and played capture the flag in the woods. But his favourite memory remains the star.

"The night before I left, when there was flashing lightning but no thunder, I saw a shooting star," he said. "I made a wish but I'm not telling what it is."

To help, send cheques to the Winnipeg Free Press Sunshine Fund c/o 302-960 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 0R4.

You can also donate in person or online at www.mbcamping.ca and following the CanadaHelps donation link. For more information on the Sunshine Fund, call 784-1130 or email sunshinefund@mbcamping.ca .

kristy.hoffman@freepress.mb.ca

Contributors as of July 19

John Baziuk: $20

Cliff and Betty-Ann King:$113, in memory of our daughter Kelsey Ann

Neil McDermot: $50, in memory of Mary, Mom, Dad and Jeff

Louise Fenwick: $100

Evelyn and David Friesen: $500

Little Red Racing: $200

Halim Tomy: $100

Stephanie Magian: $40

Jean Robinson: $50

The Podheiser Family Foundation: $255

Louise Ilchyshyn: $50

Max and Doris Levitt: $18

Anonymous: $100, in memory of Walter McCaw

Jarald Simundson: $100

Jacqueline Sweiden: $50

Mrs. Bernice Heinrichs: $100

Nancy Gray: $150, in memory of my mom, Helen Gray

Sylvia Mroz: $100, in memory of Carol Mazur

Bruno Gossen: $300

Manitoba Children and Youth Opportunities: $35,700

Blake and Lucas Grist: $100

Irene Pearson: $200

Isabel J. Crowson: $100

Janet Marshall: $50

The Edelson Family: $50, in memory of Joyce Arsenio Huypungco, $50, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. G.M. Huypungco

David George: $100, in memory of Gerald and Laura George

Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Valerie Raber: $25

Lloyd & Lorna Zacharias: $50

Sam and Rita Swire: $25

O. and R. Ilnyckyj: $50, in memory of Edith Platsko

Marilyn Hargot, $50, to honour my friend Iris Pollack

A. Thiessen: $100

Bob and Ruby Tretiak: $50

Philip and Margot Coulter: $100

Gary Altman: $200

Anonymous Donations: $430

Donations this week: $36,226

Campers placed: 720Campers waiting: 6Donations to date:$178,194.59

Campership cost: $254,213.73

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 21, 2012 B2

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