Four women gathered around the table at the Hub for Community Innovation’s kitchen Thursday, rolling out pizza dough then coaxing it into the corners of a cookie sheet.
It was a simple enough activity, but the women making the pizza together shared bonds they could only understand.
“The fellowship I’ve experienced with the women at my table has been a beautiful experience,” said Kim Bradley, a breast cancer survivor who is in her third year of participating in Camp Discovery for women who are cancer survivors.
Each July, the women gather for activities, education and camaraderie.
“We have one physical activity, a creative activity and a food activity” daily said Pam Kearney, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy for the College of Health Sciences at Augusta University and one of the camp leaders.
During the week, the 14 women have participated in yoga and tai chi, planted herb gardens, painted rocks, made cactus gardens and strummed ukuleles and learned about topics such as lymphedema and nutrition. But like Bradley, they’ve bonded over their shared experiences. They keep their friendships together outside the camp setting as well.
Kearney said studies have shown that some women don’t return to activities after their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Developed in Philadelphia, this camp concept helps to engage women and help them return to an active lifestyle. Augusta is the second city to offer Camp Discovery.
Kearney said that some women have gone back to activities they once enjoyed precancer since attending camp. They’ve started playing the piano or taken up art again Some have simply learned something new.
The response has been so positive that they expanded it to include events at other times during the year.
“The ladies demanded it. They said ‘one week in the summer is not nearly enough,” she said.
Kearney said they hope to expand the program.
“We could go up to 30,” she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
