Camp COOL will host its summer fundraiser, the COOL Kids 5K + Car Wash, on Friday, June 28 at Gamble Park in Jasper. The event raises money for Camp COOL, a local nonprofit that provides a free summer camp experience for children and young adults with cerebral palsy or spina bifida.
The morning will be full of family-friendly activities, including:
- A 5K that welcomes all ages and abilities to run, jog, or walk
- Free t-shirts for race participants
- A car wash hosted by COOL campers and volunteers
- A fun inflatable water slide
- Police cars and firetrucks on site for kids to explore
Proceeds from the event go directly to Camp COOL, which serves campers ages 6–21 at no cost to families. Campers enjoy a full week of activities, support from trained staff, and the chance to connect with peers in a fun, safe, and inclusive environment.
“The funds we raise are one of the reasons we can keep it free to the campers and their families,” says Brittney Henson, president of Camp COOL. “That is very important to the families. After they pay for medical equipment, special dietary needs, and co-pays, they often don’t have money left to send their child to an extracurricular activity.”
Thanks to donations and fundraisers like the 5K, families face no financial obligation. “They can sign their child up, and if their child meets criteria, they just send them,” Henson explains. “We pay for their meals, all their activities, and the child gets to enjoy four days of fun.”
Camp COOL was founded in 2013 to give children with special needs a place where they could fully participate in summer camp without limitations. In addition to trained counselors, the camp provides an on-site registered nurse, physical and occupational therapists for staff training, and one-on-one support for campers as needed.
“In our research early on, we realized there wasn’t a camp specifically for children with cerebral palsy or spina bifida,” says Henson. “There were camps for other diagnoses, but nothing tailored to these children and their unique range of mobility needs. We wanted them to have a place to come, no matter their ability.”
Camp COOL now hopes to expand its services and reach more children in Walker County. “We really want the community to come out and understand what we’re doing,” Henson says. “This expansion project is important—not just to us, but to the families we serve. We want people to see why this is vital, to hear the plan, and hopefully spread the word.”
More information, including registration further details, can be found at https://bit.ly/COOLKids5K, or by scanning the QR Code below. To learn more about Camp COOL, visit www.campcoolkids.org
