When Jummy signed up to volunteer at Campfire Circle in 2022, she hoped to make a difference in the lives of children with serious illness. What she didn’t expect was just how much those children would change her life in return.

Today, Jummy is a newly graduated medical doctor who recently started her residency in paediatrics. Looking back, she credits camp with helping shape not only her career path but also her understanding of what it truly means to care for a child.

“People often hear about what volunteers are doing for the campers,” she says. “But I would say it’s the complete opposite. I learned so much from each and every camper that I met.”

From her very first volunteer interview, she felt like something was different about the organization.

“The energy was amazing,” she says. “I felt like they were trying to get to know me as a person. It wasn’t about what I could do for the organization, it was about finding the right fit.”

She volunteered at an overnight camp in August 2022 and participated in the camp’s hospital-based programming at SickKids, Camp Too-night. Ask Jummy about her favourite camp memories, and her face lights up.
One camper in particular left a lasting impression. The young girl had recently received a prosthetic leg and arrived at camp feeling uncertain and self-conscious.

The breakthrough came at the waterfront.

The camper had her heart set on learning to waterski. Jummy admits she wasn’t exactly an expert herself, but she was determined to support her camper’s goal. Together with camp staff, they kept trying run after run until finally the camper stood up on her skis.

“The whole boat cheered for her,” Jummy remembers. “It was so exciting to see her feeling confident and achieving something she’d wanted to do.”

For Jummy, camp is a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t always happen in a hospital room. Sometimes it happens at a craft table. Sometimes it happens through friendship.

“We talk a lot in medicine about treating the whole person,” she explains. “Camp allowed me to actually see what that means.”

As Jummy embarks on her career in paediatrics, she hopes her Campfire Circle story isn’t over.

Because sometimes, the impact of camp extends far beyond the campers themselves.

Sometimes, it helps inspire the next generation of doctors, leaders and advocates.