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BOB SWEENEY’S CAMP H.O.P.E. 2012

John Mitty Friday, June 29, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A HOSPICE DAY CAMP FOR GRIEVING KIDS

Centerport, NY— “Most Kids Leave Camp with a T-Shirt. Ours leave with a new outlook on life.” Good Shepherd Hospice is proud to present Bob Sweeney’s CampH.O.P.E., a free two day children’s bereavement camp held this year on Saturday, July 14^th and Sunday, July 15^th. The event is held on the beautiful grounds of Camp Alvernia in Centerport with the goal to help grieving children of Nassau and Suffolk counties and their caregivers heal from their loss in a safe, fun and healthy environment. The camp is christened “Bob Sweeney’sCampH.O.P.E.” in memory of Robert L. Sweeney, who died while being cared for by Good Shepherd Hospice in February of 2002. Celebrating its tenth summer of operation,CampH.O.P.E. welcomes grieving families of all faiths a chance to share their grief experiences with others. The program is open to families who were served by Good Shepherd Hospice as well as from the community at large. Children participants are between the ages of five and seventeen and are required to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver at the camp.

Paralleling the children’s progress over the two days, adult caregivers also meet at Camp Alvernia. The adult program offers a variety of discussion and support groups, workshops, and educational materials, giving participants a chance to share their stories and concerns with one another. In doing so, adult attendees also learn more about both their self-care and fulfilling the needs of their grieving children.

The camp is staffed by the professional members of the Good Shepherd Hospice Bereavement Department as well as trained volunteers from both the hospice and the community. The camp program includes recreational games, arts and crafts, and grief work activities, including a “grief walk” for peer discussions with professional staff group leaders, and a closing memorial ceremony with a white dove release. The dove’s arc in flight circling the harbor twice before departing, representing a way for each child and caregiver who attends the camp to send their wishes skyward to a loved one.

Additional information about Bob Sweeney’s CampH.O.P.Eand the Robert L. Sweeney Foundation can be found at www.bobsweeneyscamphope.org.

For more information aboutCampH.O.P.E.as well as other programs and services offered by Good Shepherd Hospice, please call 631-465-6262 or 516-465-6262 or visit us at www.goodshepherdhospice.net.

About Good Shepherd Hospice. Good Shepherd Hospice is a major hospice provider in New York State whose mission is to care for terminally ill children and adults facing life’s final journey, and their families, with an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals who treat the body, mind and spirit. Palliative care, hospice care and bereavement support services are offered to residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, and the staff cares for nearly 400 patients every day. The Good Shepherd Hospice program is accessible to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, lifestyle or economic status. Good Shepherd Hospice is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. For more information, visit www.goodshepherdhospice.net.

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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John Mitty

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