Vancouver Foundation

For Mohan, the camp is about finding light in darkness, hope in the midst of despair, and the courage to carry on despite life-changing events. She says, "all of this becomes possible when we engage with a community that understands, a community that cares and meets our pain with love and compassion." And she knows this intimately, as shortly after Camp Kerry was founded, her own husband, one of the camp's strongest advo- cates, was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer. "e incredible 27-month journey Bas and I shared until his death at our home in March 2009 inevitably shaped everything that Camp Kerry has become and everything that I have to offer as a professional therapist and as a human being to the families I work with through Camp Kerry," says Mohan. For more information about Camp Kerry visit campkerry.org. To support projects like this, call Kristin in Donor Services at 604.629.5186 or visit vancouverfoundation.ca/give. e doctor became the patient in need of the very balm she dispensed. After Bas's death, there was even more impetus to keep going. A second camp came together with another round of donations from a group of women in West Vancouver. And from there, Camp Kerry took off, evolving into an independent entity and charitable organization with year-round initiatives as the Camp Kerry Society. But the big weekend camp every September, now at Zajac Ranch in Mission, is still the centrepiece. And it keeps getting bigger. is year, there were 35 families and 120 people, includ- ing volunteers – and a nine-month waiting list beforehand. "Our challenge right now is that demand is exceeding our ability to support everybody," says Bob. "It's a pretty unique program." In fact, it's the first program of its kind in Canada, says Mohan, who's also on the board of directors of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and an instructor in the UBC Department of Medicine in the Division of Palliative Care. Her work is in such high demand that she's been asked to present her clinical work and research on music therapy and pal- liative and bereavement care at conferences as far afield as Japan. at's because the Camp Kerry Society is making a contribution to the long-term health and wellness of the community – at home and worldwide. "We are doing prevention work," says Mohan, "diminishing the chances that children will have to be alone in their sadness, that teens will become suicidal or fall into cycles of sub- stance abuse because they have nobody to talk to, that adults will become immobilized by depression and grief and thus unable to parent well or contribute fully in their workplace environments." And it's not just those who have lost a loved one who benefit. "When you hear about other people's tragedies, it's a reminder that you have to live life and enjoy every day – that whole idea of being mindful of what great things we have to appreciate in our lives," says Bob. Vancouver Foundation CEO Kevin McCort was certainly affected after meeting Bob: "People like Bob are the ones who created every single charity in B.C. – passionate about a cause, and willing to put time, effort and money into bringing their dream to fruition." at dream lives on because Bob's parents decided to set up an endowment with Vancouver Foundation. As one of 850 char- ities with an endowment like this, Camp Kerry is now financially viable long into the future. "Little did I know it would turn into the program it is today," says Bob, still somewhat amazed that something so tragic has turned into something so positive. Or, as Mohan sees it, "a legacy of love and hope rather than a legacy of loss." Yes, this is indeed a rather grand love story. Camp Kerry p a g e 8 I V a n c o u v e r F o u n d a t i o n l F a l l 2 0 1 5 Photos: Courtesy Camp Kerry Society

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