Ella Small, left, has attended Camp Phoenix’s summer camps for children with Type 1 diabetes since 2022. Her mother Jodi says the camps increased her daughter’s confidence and help everyone in the family relax for a week. Blaine Auld photo.

            Jodi Small was nervous. Her 8-year-old daughter Ella had never spent a night away from her family since her diagnosis.

            The family spent hours researching the special camp program before they decided to sign her up.

            “Fast-forward four years later (and) it was one of the best things we ever did,” Jodi said.   Ella is one of many P.E.I. children who have benefitted from Camp Phoenix, a summer camp program for boys and girls living with Type 1 diabetes.

            The camp is organizing its latest fundraiser to continue providing camp programming.

            ‘Rolling in the Dough’ is an online auction of pastries and desserts donated by bakers and other businesses throughout the Island. 

Camp Phoenix hopes to raise $1,000 for the auction. It will take place on Facebook on Feb. 2.

            Anthony Millar, the chair of the camp and organizer of the fundraiser, said it is a good way to promote local businesses.

            “We’re going to promote them as much as we can, and then anything we get from the auction itself is directly going to the camp.”

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             It costs about $60,000 to operate the camp for one week every summer. Millar hopes to raise up to $70,000 between all of Camp Phoenix’s fundraisers this year.

            About 70 per cent of the camp’s revenue goes to the facility it rents at Camp Seggie in Rice Point, P.E.I. The rest goes toward expenses like medical supplies and camp curriculum.

            Millar wants to expand the camp’s programming further, but it depends on how much money there is.

            “Anywhere at all we can get that extra dollar or two just to help with expanding our programming…will help us follow into the future.”

            Millar, who also has Type 1 diabetes, knows the impact his camps have on children.

            He was a former camper and counsellor.

            Many camps are not comfortable having children with Type 1 diabetes stay overnight due to their condition, and Camp Phoenix allows them to enjoy a camp experience, he said.

            “It makes my heart happy knowing that they’re feeling the same way I felt.”

            Helen MacNeil, who runs Helen’s Pastry Co. in Charlottetown, was one of the first bakers Millar contacted about donating to the fundraiser.

            She will be providing a red velvet cheesecake for the auction.

            She tries to donate to causes that support children when she can.

            “I have a soft spot for anything with kids, so I definitely try to donate anything that’s going to benefit children in our community.”

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             MacNeil added she is glad to see an experience catered to children with Type 1 diabetes.

            “Every kid wants to have, and deserves to have, a fun childhood and fun camp experience.”

            Jodi Small noted Ella had more confidence when she came home from her first camp in 2022. Now 11 years old, Ella has been to the camp for the last three summers.

            At Camp Phoenix, she made new friends and learned different ways to monitor her diabetes.

            Camp Phoenix helped Jodi’s daughter understand other people live with her condition and it is manageable.

            “It really helped her to see that with an actual lived experience, as opposed to just hearing (about it).

            The camps helped Jodi as well.

            Medical staff such as pediatricians, registered nurses and dietitians are always present at the camps.

            Campers also have access to a variety of food.

            “It's a week when (we) can unplug and kind of forget that about diabetes, because everybody's there with the same thing.”

            Ella enjoys a variety of activities when she goes to the camp, such as kayaking, rock climbing and going to the beach.

            She said her favourite part of camp is being with people like her.

            “It just feels a lot more welcoming knowing that everyone there actually understands how it feels to have Type 1 diabetes, rather than trying to explain how it feels to somebody else.”

            Ella is excited to go back to camp again this summer.

            “I have it already planned out on our calendar now.”