Samantha Bullen

In 2004, my younger brother was diagnosed with childhood cancer and I was introduced to the Candlelighters and attended Camp Delight for the first time. Camp Delight became the event that I most looked forward to every year. My fellow campers not only became my friends but my family. When my time as a camper came to an end I wanted to remain part of Camp Delight and the Candlelighters. I volunteered with Night of Delight, Christmas parties, became a counsellor-in-training and then a counsellor with Camp Delight where I had the honour of helping give kids an experience like I had – a chance to connect with others facing the same struggles. The connections and experiences I made through the Candlelighters provided a great support during the grief of losing my brother. While the past few years have pulled me away from volunteering with school and work commitments, I am looking forward to being involved with the Candlelighters again and assisting in any way that I can to help provide support to families.