 "Photo: photo provided by Sports Information")
About 14 years ago, K.J. Houle was diagnosed with leukemia.
Cancer was detected in Plattsburgh State women’s hockey Head Coach Kevin Houle’s son just 14 months into his life.
In two years, he was cancer-free and has been ever since. He is now 15.
Around the age of 10, the Houles sent K.J. to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for children who have or once had cancer.
"Camp to me as meant many special times and meeting new and friendly people I will love all my life," K.J. said. "Everyone at camp is just very enthusiastic and makes you feel like nothing is wrong with anyone and everyone is the same."
The camp provides a week away from family for kids to be with other kids and simply have a fun week of activities.
“In hindsight, we should have sent him right away,” Kevin said. “It’s a great experience and really a life-changing experience for him and for all the people that he’s met there.
“That’s my reason for wanting to do something for the camp and to help them out a bit.”
In conjunction with the annual “Stuff Stafford” event, Kevin sought to help raise money for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta.
This Sunday, when the Lady Cards take on Manhattanville, anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend the game and offer support for the camp.
In years past, “Stuff Stafford” was designed to help set a new Division III women’s ice hockey attendance record.
This year’s “Stuff Stafford” event will go beyond the attendance numbers. It will go to helping provide an experience similar to what K.J. has enjoyed for five years for other kids in northern New York and Vermont.
“We do not survive without the community backing us or schools,” said Ted Kessler, founder and executive director of Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. “We have no corporate sponsors, no sponsors through government. With Coach Houle stepping in, that’s just one thing that really makes a difference for these kids.”
The camp offers kids the opportunity to do all sorts of outside activities. There are ropes courses, mountain climbing and dances.
Medically, all of the kids receive chemotherapy and necessary food while at the camp. It costs about $2,000 per child for the one week a year they attend.
But the kids attend the camp without a fee, as it should be, Kevin said.
“While they’re growing up and being treated, they lose their childhood experiences,” Kessler said. “At camp, we give chemo and everything there, but they’re kids again. In school, they’re the child that stands out because they’ve lost their hair, but at camp it doesn’t matter because all of the kids there all have cancer.”
Camp Ta-Kum-Ta changed locations just last year from Colchester, Vt., to South Hero, Vt., making it all the more beneficial to be raising money for it.
Kessler hopes the money raised Sunday will help cover some of the expenses of changing locations for the first time in 26 years as a camp.
Kessler, K.J. and two other campers will take part in a ceremonial puck drop before game time. Kessler said he will be handing out fliers and answering questions anyone might have of the camp.
K.J.'s camp time will be up in just two years. Campers are finished at age 17. But he doesn't plan ending his connection with Camp Ta-Kum-Ta just because he can't be a camper anymore.
He hopes to become a counselor.
"The counselors really get to connect with the campers and have a lot of fun at camp," K.J. said. "When I'm older, I hope camp has all its cabins up and is just a great, fun place to come with the fun counselors."
Kevin said he has two numbers in mind for Sunday’s game — $1,500 and 500 students.
“I think it’d be awesome to have as many students come out to the game (as possible),” he said. “Whatever you want to give, you can give a buck, two bucks, whatever it may be, but it’d be awesome to have 500 students here.
“I think if they come out and not only support the team but support a good cause, that they’ll become fans of the game.”
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