A Weekend of Hope and Connection: MRF at Camp Boggy Creek 

Last month the Melanoma Research Foundation’s (MRF) education team had the incredible opportunity to help plan a special weekend for pediatric melanoma patients and their families. Hosted during Family Weekend at Camp Boggy Creek, a camp designed to bring joy, support and healing to children with serious medical conditions, the event provided a unique opportunity for connection, education and fun. 

This year, we were proud to invite and support three pediatric melanoma families, ensuring they could experience the magic of Camp Boggy Creek firsthand. The retreat brought together patients (ages 5-17), their siblings and caregivers for a weekend of fun camp activities, education and community support. 

As representatives of the MRF, we worked closely with Camp Boggy Creek to cultivate meaningful connections and ensure families felt welcomed, informed and empowered. Going into the weekend, we anticipated an emotional and serious atmosphere given the medical challenges these children face daily. Instead, we found ourselves immersed in a world filled with laughter, adventure and resilience. From archery and boating to singing around the campfire and spending time with therapy dogs, the children with a melanoma diagnosis and their siblings fully embraced every moment, without the weight of their diagnoses holding them back. It was a powerful reminder of why we do this work. 

Beyond the fun, we had the privilege of bonding with families, learning their stories and offering support and leaning into the impact of community. Many parents shared the difficulties of navigating a pediatric melanoma diagnosis, from understanding pathology reports to finding the right treatment options. It reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that families have access to the resources and support they need. 

At the MRF, we are dedicated to expanding education, advocacy and research for pediatric melanoma. We continue to forge forward building relationships with pediatric medical care teams across the country and bridging that gap between families and care teams. Our time at Camp Boggy Creek reinforced the importance of creating a dedicated event for families that offers information, connection and empowerment. 

We left Camp Boggy Creek inspired, motivated and more dedicated than ever to ensuring that no child or family faces this diagnosis alone.