Contact: Erika Castle, 719-598-5869
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Kids whose military parents are deployed overseas are the true casualties of war. So says Cavin Harper, President of the Christian Grandparenting Network, a local charity holding a fundraising banquet at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort on October 10th to host these children and their grandparents at a specially designed "Military Kids GrandCamp" this summer.
"The social and emotional stress borne by children of deployed parents is in many ways higher than what their soldier parents themselves experience," says Harper, whose organization has hosted GrandCamps for grandparents and grandchildren for the last ten summers. "There is absolutely a kind of trauma in losing one's childhood that mirrors what a soldier experiences on a battlefield. Grandparents of these children whose parents are deployed are in a unique position to do what no one else can--namely, provide family-based love, stability and even fun. But they often do not realize how key their role is, or how specifically they can help."
Harper's Christian Grandparenting Network conducted their first-ever "Military Kids GrandCamp" in June last summer. Vicki Wheeland, whose son Dustin is stationed in Iraq, was one of the attendees, along with her granddaughter, Ashley.
"Military Kids GrandCamp far exceeded my expectations," said Wheeland who flew from Phoenix, Arizona to spend the week at the camp, the expenses for which are covered by CGN's donors and local community sources. "My granddaughter experienced love in every activity we did, and her outlook on life has improved tremendously since camp. It's as though she has received a new lease on life."
According to Harper, the most exciting aspect of GrandCamp is its lasting effect. "Because GrandCamp is comprised of shared experiences, family members are able to reinforce the teachings and tools learned at camp."
Harper says the main mechanism for raising the $36,000 required to fund the camp annually is the fundraising banquet, paid for by the organization's donors. "The dinners are already paid for," says Harper. "It would be great to see the room filled with people who have a heart for military kids, want to hear stories from last summer's Military Kids GrandCamp, and are eager to help."
Individuals interested in attending the fundraising banquet or in making a contribution to the GrandCamp program can contact Harper at 719-522-1404. It is also possible to RSVP for the free banquet at www.christiangrandparenting.net or by e-mailing Harper at cavinharp@gmail.com.
