Quite the Journey
<p>Mailey Ingram, 14, of Coeur d'Alene, jumps into the Spokane River from a dock during a free activity period of Camp Journey Wednesday at Ross Point Camp and Conference Center in Post Falls. Ingram was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 2 years old. She relapsed at 5 and is now in remission.</p>
<p>Coeur d'Alene resident Austin Dunbar, 14, paddles a kayak with other campers during a boating activity at Camp Journey. Dunbar is a sibling of child leukemia survivor.</p>
<p>Anna Cumbie focuses on her goal while scaling a climbing wall at the camp.</p>
POST FALLS - For Damien Day, the best part of getting the hang of archery on Wednesday wasn't hitting the target.
It was being around other kids at Camp Journey who have cancer or have battled it in the past.
"I get to be me," the Coeur d'Alene 12-year-old said softly while taking a break from target practice at Ross Point Camp along the Spokane River in Post Falls.
"Everybody here is just like me. I like hanging out with other kids with cancer because around Coeur d'Alene there's not many of us."
One hundred twenty-six campers from throughout the region, assisted by 76 volunteers including a medical team, are enjoying a myriad of outdoor activities this week, ranging from cooking to wall climbing.
Many of the volunteers formerly had cancer themselves and have been coming to the camp for several years.
"The kids with cancer are encouraged to see others who are past it," said Kari Allen, camp director. "And siblings get to meet other siblings to better understand the effects of cancer. We have kids who have a rough time at school, but when they come here they get to be around people who get it."
Coeur d'Alene 12-year-old Logan Dunbar, who battled cancer for three years, said he remembers his parents arguing over who could be by his side at night when he was going through therapy.
"I also remember I couldn't go out of the hospital when others went to play video games," Dunbar said.
There were also fond memories, he said.
"My brothers and dad shaved their heads (in support during chemotherapy treatments)," Dunbar said.
Dunbar is in his fourth year at the camp.
"It's fun having friends who experienced the same thing that I experienced," he said.
Post Falls 8-year-old Braeden Broer said he was a little nervous about coming to camp because this is his first year, but the counselors and activities such as cooking made him feel comfortable.
"And I got away from my annoying brothers and sister," he said.
Coeur d'Alene 16-year-old Riley Hess has been coming to camp since he was 7 and is training to become a counselor.
"We're all one big family," he said with a wide smile. "We've all been through hard times. I want to give back because people helped me through tough times when I was down."
Allen said the camp is a win-win for families affected by cancer.
"It feels great to provide a safe place for the kids, but it's also nice for the families," said Allen, referring to the break.
The separation can be difficult on families, but they are comforted by having doctors and nurses on site who are familiar with their children, Allen said.
Coeur d'Alene buddies Justin Galletti and Nick Leonard, who organized a sweethearts ball fundraiser for the camp with Jake Bonwell and cancer survivor Brandon Bunch, hung out with campers on Wednesday to check out how the funds are used.
"Once you come here, you're hooked," Leonard said.