LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Buses filled with campers arrived at Camp Cartwheel as the medically supervised summer camp opened for another session.
The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation created the camp for kids battling cancer or other rare childhood illnesses and their siblings. The program has become a tradition for generations of families.
About a half hour outside the Las Vegas valley, Camp Cartwheel offers campers a chance to escape medical hardships and be like any other kid.
33 years at Torino Ranch
Torino Ranch in Lovell Canyon in the Spring Mountains has hosted campers for more than three decades, missing only a few years during COVID.
“The 30 years have been incredible,” said Brett Torino.
Torino has been with the camp since the beginning, offering his property after a chance encounter at FOX5.
“He was promoting the start of a camp and said he needed a home, if anybody knew of a ranch. So when Jeff got off stage, I grabbed him and said, talk to me. And the next day, we drove up here,” Torino said.
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Campers return as volunteers
Volunteer Tina May said many kids grow up at the camp and return as counselors when they are old enough.
“Camp Cartwheel is just a wonderful place to be. The kids are amazing. The volunteers are amazing… The minute they get off the buses, we’re family,” May said. “Once you come and experience the feelings here, you want to come back.”
Ilia Sandez, a former camper, took time off to volunteer at the camp.
“Oh, this is my sixth year. Seven if you include my camper year,” Sandez said. “I just loved being able to come back to camp and give that magic back to the kids. It just felt so amazing.”
Racecar theme and activities
This year’s camp features a racecar theme. The kids started the day with a face-off as cabins competed for a Hot Wheels win.
New campers headed to the craft tent and were given their camp names. One camper, nicknamed Spidey, said his favorite thing about camp was the water guns before running off to join a water gun fight.
FOX5 presented a $5,000 donation to help keep Camp Cartwheel running for years to come.
More information about Camp Cartwheel is available here.
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