The Peru Gazette

Photo – L-R Robert, Scott and Patti Moseley; Camp Tu-Kum-Ta Executive Director Ted Kessler and Lois Roberts representing the Peru Lions Club.

By John T. Ryan

Members of the Peru Lions Club conduct fund-raisers such as their Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot and their Election Day spaghetti dinner. On April 8^th $1,000 of the money they raised was presented to Camp Tu-Kum-Ta Executive Director Ted Kessler. Camp Tu-Kum-Ta serves children between the ages of seven and seventeen who have cancer or have been treated for cancer. The children either live in Vermont or must have been treated for cancer in Vermont. Kessler said 35% to 40% of the children the camp serves reside in Upstate New York. He mentioned Sabrina and Laura from Peru.

Chazy residents Robert and Patti Moseley and their seventeen year old son Scott were present to speak about their camp experiences. When Scott was two and one-half years old he was treated for brain stem cancer. He made his first visit to Camp Tu-Kum-Ta at age seven and has returned every summer. Scott talked about the imaginative programs the camp offers and its wonderful counselors. Along with all the fun the camp experience offers Scott said, “I’ve also made many good friendships and I have a lot of good memories.” Scott’s parents Robert and Patti were equally enthusiastic as they described how the camp counselors devise new programs for each day of the camping experience. All programs are offered to families free of charge.

The annual seven day summer camp program attracts between 70 and 80 children who are served by some 105 staff volunteers. This year a weekend winter residential camp was added and this fall a weekend afternoon program will be begin for children ages 13-16. Kessler said, “The camp is a place where the young people can be kids again.” He and his wife founded Camp Tu-Kum-Ta in 1984 after their own son had attended a cancer camp in New York State. They wanted to recreate that “mind and body healing” experience. Camp Tu-Kum-Ta was located in Malletts Bay for almost 25 years before being moved to a much larger site in South Hero about two years ago.

Peru Lion Lois Roberts said being able to assist worthy causes such as Camp Tu-Kum-Ta reaffirmed her decision to join the Peru Lions Club saying, “It makes be proud to be a member.”