‘Pink Tea’ benefits Camp Kesem, children of cancer patients

Children and counselors who participate in Camp Kesem receive a check provided through the Pink Tea fundraiser by the Iron County Moms club, Cedar City, Utah, June 1, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News

CEDAR CITY —  Members of the Iron County Moms Club raised more than $8,600 during their annual “Pink Tea” fundraising event to benefit Camp Kesem, a national program that hosts a summer camp for children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.

SUU students, who serve as Camp Kesem counselors, accept a check from the Moms Club Pink Tea fundraiser, Cedar City, Utah, June 1, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News
SUU students, who serve as Camp Kesem counselors, accept a check from the Moms Club Pink Tea fundraiser, Cedar City, Utah, June 1, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News

A check for $8,606.48 was presented Thursday morning outside of the Southern Utah University Gerald R. Sherratt library to Camp Kesem representatives.

Children at Camp Kesem learn coping techniques, have fun and make lifelong friendships. Moms, for Moms Offering Moms Support, presented the club’s check to pay for the costs associated with sending children to this unique summer camp.

According to the Moms Club website, “The Pink Tea is a charity fundraising event where attendees wear dressy hats and are served tea and finger foods by Southern Utah University football players dressed up in white shirts and ties.”

Amy Bleak, nurse manager at Cedar City Hospital, said community members volunteer at the event. Proceeds benefit local charities or community outreach programs such as the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center and, this year, Camp Kesem.

While the Pink Tea was originally sponsored by the Cedar City Rotary, three years ago it merged with the Iron County Moms Club.

According to a press release issued by the Pink Tea board, the Moms Club is an “international non-profit organization … based on service and working together as moms to support the community and each other.”

Children and counselors who participate in Camp Kesem receive a check provided through the Pink Tea fundraiser by the Iron County Moms club, Cedar City, Utah, June 1, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News
Children and counselors who participate in Camp Kesem receive a check provided through the Pink Tea fundraiser by the Iron County Moms club, Cedar City, Utah, June 1, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News

The local chapter has roughly 40 members that host socials, meetings, activities for their children such as “Park Plays” and community events like the Pink Tea.

The chapter at Southern Utah University is one of only two in Utah.

“Camp Kesem is doing more than just providing a summer camp for kids,” Courtney Graves, president of the Iron County Moms Club, said. “It’s building up these kids who are struggling through their parent’s cancer diagnosis and giving them the tools they need to get through it and to help the other kids around them that are going through the same thing.

“I also really love that it is run by volunteer students … who love giving their time and hard work to help these families. It’s inspiring to see the love they have for Kesem and for the kids they serve.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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