Heather Rigg-Camp Sunshine-Jul 27, 2017

Heather Rigg will be teaching a special BDC GIVES Beginner Jazz Class as part of Midnight Madness! All proceeds will go to Camp Sunshine.

About Camp Sunshine:

Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine provides retreats combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child’s illness. Camp Sunshine is the only program in the nation offered year-round with the distinction of having been designed to serve the entire family in a retreat model. The program is free of charge to families and includes on-site medical and psychosocial support. Bereavement sessions are also offered for families who have experienced the death of a child from a supported illness.

Why is Camp Sunshine Heather's charity of choice?

"Elizabeth is my god-daughter, after an emergency craniotomy, she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor at 14 months old on July 12, 2006. After too many battles to count of surgeries, chemo, stem cell transplant, radiation, we had tried everything that existed, and in June of 2012 her oncologist told us there were no treatments left and it was a matter of weeks. Through a ton of love and support, and an holistic pain relief and healing technique, Elizabeth was with us 9 more months. She got her angel wings March 10, 2013. She would have been 12 on May 19th this year. I started Team Elizabeth in 2012 initially to raise money to help pay for her medical treatments as well as for Camp Sunshine. Now Camp Sunshine (https://www.campsunshine.org/) is our primary beneficiary. It's a really special camp in Maine for kids and their families with terminal illnesses. It's an amazing place. They not only support during a child's treatment, but also the bereaved families as well. I have been fortunate to have gone up to camp with my sister, Katie, and Elizabeth's sisters, Mary and Anna, both with Elizabeth and in bereavement. Camp gets bibs for the Beach to Beacon 10K every year so they can have supporters run and fundraise. Beach to Beacon is Maine's premier race, it's held right outside Portland, and we run to Cape Elizabeth! (Team Elizabeth has made it into the Portland newspaper in the past!) Elizabeth is my hero, she was always happy, and never afraid. She touched the lives of so many while she was with us, and she continues to inspire me and all of us, every day. I could go on and on! As much as I'm sad when I miss her, I feel so blessed that we were the family that she got to spend her short time here on earth with."

--Amanda Caan