Scholarship allows camper to experience Camp Fairlee for the first time

Kayleen is always happy. So it was no surprise to her mom, Sue, that her 21-year-old daughter was dubbed Happiest Camper at her very first camp experience at Easter Seals Camp Fairlee. Sending Kayleen to camp has been a dream of Sue's for many years, and thanks to a grant from the David Larmore Memorial Fund, that dream finally came true.

"The scholarship is amazing. I am not able to afford to send her to camp on my own, so I am a very, very grateful woman. It was a wonderfully positive, amazing gift," Sue says. "Kayleen's experience could not have been better! She loved every minute of it. She was happy when I picked her up, but she did not want to leave. She was so excited. She loved being with people her own age."

Kayleen was the first recipient of a grant from the David Larmore Memorial Fund to fully fund a camper from the lower shore to attend a week at Camp Fairlee. The Larmore family created a legacy at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore by establishing a fund in memory of their son David, who attended Camp Fairlee in his teens. They established the fund to benefit local nonprofit organizations, like Easter Seals, that support people with severe physical disabilities. David was born with spina bifida that resulted in multiple congenital birth defects. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 32.

"We are glad that Camp Fairlee was the first recipient of the David Larmore Memorial grant. David had a wonderful experience while he was there. We love Camp Fairlee," said Sheldon Larmore, David's father. "It is great to give back to a community who gave us so much."

While Kayleen was enjoying her time at camp, Sue was able to catch up on sleep and finally accomplish a big project she is not able to complete with Kayleen around. She also enjoyed some spicy food that Kayleen is unable to eat.

"I am so grateful to have Kayleen. She is the best thing that ever happened to me. I have learned so many things about what is important in life. We are all better for it. I am thankful to God for the gift of Kayleen," said Sue.

To learn more about the David Larmore Memorial Fund to help individuals with disabilities, like Kayleen, who need assistance funding supplies and equipment, as well as respite time, contact BJ Summers at the CFES, www.cfes.org.

Easter Seals Camp Fairlee, near Chestertown, Md., is the only camp in the region that provides a typical residential camp experience for children and adults with disabilities year-round. Camp Fairlee offers week-long camp sessions throughout the summer, travel trips throughout the year and weekend respite/retreat programs from August through May. For more information, go to www.de.easterseals.com/fairlee.

Easter Seals Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore offers a range of services, including children's therapies, assistive technology, recreational camping, day programs for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities and respite services for caregivers. To learn more about how Easter Seals helps children and adults with disabilities, call 800-677-3800 or go to www.de.easterseals.com.