WCU chapter of Kesem seeks funds to continue to offer free local camps

Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News
·2 min read
Campers pose for a group shot after taking part in a Kesem Camp at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville last year. The camp was made possible by the Kesem Western Carolina University chapter.
Campers pose for a group shot after taking part in a Kesem Camp at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville last year. The camp was made possible by the Kesem Western Carolina University chapter.

Western Carolina University senior Kyle Meng first heard of Kesem camps when his sister joined a chapter at the University of Georgia, and he was intrigued.

Kesem is a national 501 organization that supports children who are affected by a parent's cancer. The organization puts on special events all year long, including summer camps. While Meng, who is from Georgia, was a student at Western, he wanted to become more involved with Kesem and did so by helping start the first chapter of Kesem at Western Carolina.

"We have been able to put on some incredible events for our families in the past year, including an amazing summer camp session that was hosted at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville," Meng said. "All of our services are provided to these families completely free, and as a result we have to fundraise every year."

Campers take part in a Kesem Camp at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville last year. The camp was made possible by the Kesem Western Carolina University chapter.
Campers take part in a Kesem Camp at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville last year. The camp was made possible by the Kesem Western Carolina University chapter.

Meng said his Kesem journey began when he was in his freshman year at WCU.

"I saw the amazing impact that this organization can have on the children and families it supports. I started my Kesem journey during the fall of my freshman year at Western Carolina University when I put in my application to start my own chapter. After many long months and building an amazing team of students, we were awarded a chapter at the start of 2020," he said.

Meng said so far this year, the chapter has struggled a lot with funding.

"Because of this we may have to turn some families and counselors away this summer. We would like to ask the community to consider supporting our chapter in our mission to ensure no child is alone. This support would make such a large impact on our children and their families," he said.

Since 2020, the WCU chapter has grown to provide free services to more than 20 children.

"And we are continuing to grow. I plan on staying involved with Kesem after I graduate in May. It is a goal of mine to join the national staff one day and continue supporting this amazing cause," Meng said.

The fundraising campaign for this year has started, and anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting the website  https://donate.kesem.org/team/446398. The summer camp at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville will be Aug. 2-6. Meng said there is also a big fundraising event happening on April 15 in Asheville by going to this link: https://donate.kesem.org/event/kesem-at-western-carolina-university-make-the-magic-fy-2023/e459421.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: WCU chapter of Kesem seeks funds to continue to offer free local camps