Guest Post From Couch and Car: Our 2012 Trip to Camp Kesem
A Note from Fatty: You might remember that back in April, I announced that this year’s 100 Miles of Nowhere would, with the help of LiveStrong, help fund the creation of Camp Kesem Southern Utah.
Well, we raised $34,000 with our little 100-mile event, and that money helped not only get Camp Kessem in Southern Utah get on its feet, we helped it stay on its feet for next year, too. And we helped other Camp Kesems across the US send kids who have parents with (or who have had) cancer to a fun-filled, silly, happy week.
Two of the kids who went to Camp Kesem Southern Utah were my own twins, pictured here during “Western Day” at Camp Kesem:
At Camp Kesem, everyone goes by a camp nickname. “Car” is pictured here on the left, and “Couch” is on the right. And no, I have no difficulty whatsoever telling them apart.
They had so much fun. One of the first things they said to me when they got back home was, “Can we please go back next year?”
And you know what? I think that can probably be arranged.
So, before I turn the blog over to the twins for their story of their week, I wanted to thank some folks.
First, A huge thanks to LiveStrong. They introduced me to Camp Kesem. They’re helping fund Camp Kesem. They continue — long after cancer has stopped being an ugly, daily force in my life — to help my family in practical, meaningful ways. Thanks Doug. Thanks Lance. Thanks everyone at the foundation.
Second, A huge thanks to Camp Kesem: Your idea is simple and beautiful: give a wonderful week to kids who have gotten a raw deal because their parents are fighting cancer. And do it at no cost to the kids. And your execution of that idea — using energetic, friendly college kids to give those kids lots of attention — is pure genius. You’ve got my support, permanently.
Third, A huge thanks to my readers: You have an astonishing ability to support me, my family, and each other. Thank you for pitching in, over and over, through the years. You have big, kind hearts, and I’m lucky so many of you have chosen to stop by here from time to time.
And with that, here’s “Couch and Car’s Camp Kesem Story.” You can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version of that image.
Couch & Car’s Camp Kesem Story
The first day of Camp Kesem, the first thing we did was play games to get to know each other, then we played tag and talked. Then we went on a small hike.
We saw: one rabbit, some lizards, and two snakes. We also made paper lanterns and put our flashlights under them so they would glow. At night, we had a party in our cabin and chatted.
On Western day, we did cowboy things like “lasso the bull” and “ride that pony.” Then we played capture the hat. Then, finally, we had a squirt gun shoot-off.
On Mexican day we had a paper airplane race and had taco soup and we also played capture the bandana.
Then it was island day. We ate Hawaian Haystacks and played water balloon volleyball and slip’n’slide baseball. Then everyone just sat on the ground and talked. Some friends and us sat with a leader and talked about what would win: a T-rex or 10 tanks.
And just when we decided we couldn’t decide what would win, and asked someone else, we heard, “Like a banana!” and water balloons came raining down! And so it was a huge fight and it went on until the water balloons ran out.
Then on Chinese day we made chinese dragons, watched a slide show, ate some treated, and went to our Grandma’s home in the rain.
Comment by Chris Engle | 09.11.2012 | 9:16 am
Sounds like a great time! I so proud to be part of something that gives back. Thanks Fatty.
Comment by ChristyMcB | 09.11.2012 | 9:45 am
Absolutely precious! Thanks Couch and Car for sharing. I loved your pictures!!
Comment by Christina | 09.11.2012 | 9:56 am
The picture of the party in the cabin is awesome! Actually all of the pictures are awesome. Thank you so much for sharing.
So, when are we raising money for something awesome next?
This post has been brought to you by the word awesome.
Comment by fat cathy | 09.11.2012 | 10:02 am
Your kids are so talented! Love the picture-blog.
Comment by RodNeeds2Ride | 09.11.2012 | 10:13 am
That is SO cool! Glad you guys were able to do that – keep on rockin’!
Comment by NYCCarlos | 09.11.2012 | 10:15 am
LIKE A BANANA!!!!!!!!!
Also – would 1 Horse-sized Duck beat 100 Duck-sized Horses?
Comment by Tori B | 09.11.2012 | 10:16 am
Thanks for posting and for helping raise the money to get another CK started!! My girls (Cheetah,10 and Bluegill,13) are 4 year veterans to CK now and still love every minute. You are completely right. It is a great organization founded on a genius idea. I love seeing good press about CK because the more people know about it the better! Thank you!
Comment by Anonymous | 09.11.2012 | 10:16 am
Like Christina said. Let’s find somewhere to send our money. I know. I could do it myself, but it’s so much more fun when you ask.
Great report girls, I look forward to sharing this with my 11yr old girl when she gets home from school.
There will be two more fundraisers this year: one for Young Survivor’s Coalition, and one for World Bicycle Relief. I’m doing background work on both of these right now. They will both be amazing. – FC
Comment by Clydesteve | 09.11.2012 | 10:21 am
Great write-up, girls! I especially like the water balloon fight illustration.
But I am left just wondering at Like a banana! as a battle cry. I would have never thought of that one.
Comment by hannah | 09.11.2012 | 10:37 am
Great write-up, Couch and Car! I can’t wait until I see your names as illustrators on published books; you make fantastic, expressive drawings! I love the water balloon illustration, the way you show the balloons breaking. I am so glad you had fun.
Also, I think a T-Rex would win.
Comment by Paul Guyot | 09.11.2012 | 10:42 am
Ah, the ancient Chinese tradition of going to grandma’s house whenever it rains.
This sounds awesome and Camp Kesem is added to my “Always Support” list forever.
Good job, C&C.
Comment by Susan's Sister Christine | 09.11.2012 | 10:48 am
Hey Couch and Car!
I was hoping to see a write up of your awesome time at camp. What great pictures! I’m so glad you had such a nice time at camp, and that I got to share a small part of it with you. You are such sweet fun girls, and I could see how much your camp leaders had grown to love you. I’m glad I got to spend that time with you. I love you so much.
And don’t forget to watch out for…..FISH BOMBS!
Love Aunt Christine
Comment by Mike C | 09.11.2012 | 11:20 am
Great Story! We’ll look for opportunity to help you two make it again next year!
Comment by Mark J. in Dallas | 09.11.2012 | 11:29 am
Excellent write-up ladies! You are very talented and I can tell your dad is very proud of you. I can’t wait to read this story to my son tonight. He’s going to love the pictures.
Comment by Kent E | 09.11.2012 | 11:58 am
As always, Great story and pictures C & C!
Thank You LiveStrong for all the great things you do when cancer hits a family. It is about so much more than just finding the cure.
Fatty, I have four kids, none look anything like the others. I still can’t keep them straight!
Comment by roadrash | 09.11.2012 | 12:22 pm
Priceless artwork. Big smiles. Thanks C&C!
Comment by Heidi | 09.11.2012 | 1:31 pm
Fabulous!!
And, Aunt Christine made me get all teary…
Comment by ClydeinKS | 09.11.2012 | 1:54 pm
Love the camp report Couch and Car! I am planning to begin filling water balloons and yelling “Like a Bananna!!” here at work tomorrow, not sure the boss would find it as amusing. My 6 year old has begun writing and illustrating stories since reading your Christmas posts, can’t wait to share this with him tonight. Thanks for sharing, and SOOO glad that my hours spinning nowhere helped!
Comment by Clydesdale | 09.11.2012 | 2:10 pm
Awesome!! Great job girls!
Fatty, I can tell them apart too. They are wearing nametags…
Comment by Darren | 09.11.2012 | 2:13 pm
Clearly we need to raise money for Camp Kesem again!!
Comment by Kukui | 09.11.2012 | 3:44 pm
Couch and Car!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your adventures at Camp Kesem! I’m so glad you girls had such a great time!
Your stories about your days at camp and the drawings are amazing!
LIKE A BANANA!!! I love it! :)
Fatty, your girls are so wonderful.
Comment by rich | 09.11.2012 | 4:24 pm
well, duh! of course the tanks would win, they have guns and bombs and stuff….unless of course the T-Rex was really godzilla cuz he breathes fire and smashes tanks…
Love the illustrations….Fatty, take note – more colored pictures in your blogs
Total awesomeness…
Comment by FujiPixie13 | 09.11.2012 | 5:37 pm
My Dear Young Ladies, your descriptions and pictures took me back to my camp days. I know you wouldn’t trade those days at CK for anything. Loved every bit of this post. Thank you, Couch & Car. :o)
Comment by BamaJim | 09.11.2012 | 7:14 pm
That is a GREAT writeup, and I’m glad they had such a good time.
Comment by Nurse Betsy | 09.11.2012 | 7:25 pm
Car and Couch, glad you had a great time, and love the pictures! Camp is always fun!!! LIKE A BANANA!!!
HAAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAAA
Comment by Carl | 09.11.2012 | 7:45 pm
Such a cute story. Thanks girls for sharing with us.
Comment by James | 09.11.2012 | 8:54 pm
So glad you were able to attend such a great camp! Thanks for sharing!
Comment by Lonster | 09.11.2012 | 9:57 pm
Amazing artwork! Glad they had so much fun. So happy that my 100 MON went to help such a great cause. My cycling buddies that rode with me that day still mention the 6 climbs of our local hill that we rode in 100 degree heat that day.
Comment by Gumby | 09.12.2012 | 12:44 pm
Fatty,
“Like a banana” should be on a special run of t-shirts in your next set of gear from twin six…
Comment by Kristina | 09.12.2012 | 5:50 pm
You have remarkably talented children… During a random browse through old posts, I just ran across this: http://www.fatcyclist.com/blogphotos/cyclation3.swf. You should absolutely post this annually, perhaps with the inevitable spring ‘need to lose weight’ discussion! So funny.
Comment by Rob L | 09.14.2012 | 6:05 am
You should design and sell Christmas cards. I would buy them!
Comment by Jeremy | 09.16.2012 | 10:44 pm
Oftentimes, the organizations that benefit from the charity ride can be a bit nebulous. Thank you, Couch and Car, for taking the time to share your experience. I am glad to be a small part of Camp Kesem.
Comment by Jodi | 09.17.2012 | 10:04 am
Hey! Couch + Car!!
Your cousins Carpet, Potty-Chair and Stroller want to see you again soooooon! Great pictures and stories.
We love you forever and ever.
XOXO