Quality time: Camp for kids living with cancer is highlight of Jethro’s year

Jethro Chiet with camp companion Taylor Worthington-Thin.

Since 1985, New Zealand charity Camp Quality has been running week-long events for children aged between 5 and 16 living with cancer, with no cost to their families.

Whanganui 11-year-old Jethro Chiet goes every year, and he has the T-shit to prove it.

Mike Tweed reports.

Jethro Chiet, who lives with Down syndrome and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia shortly after he turned 1 has attended Camp Quality every year since the age of 5.

It gives Jethro a week with an adult companion doing activities including swimming, crafts, outings, movie nights, and disco parties.

The camps, for children aged between 5 and 16 living with cancer, are free to attend.

Father Phil Chiet said Jethro went to his first two with his older brother.

“This year, the disco had an under-the-sea theme, and he got to dress up as a shark. It looked awesome.

“They really get spoiled. Jethro comes home and immediately wants to go back again,” he said,

“The volunteers and staff are an amazing, passionate bunch of people.”

He said Jethro wore his Camp Quality T-shirt every day.

“It’s getting a bit tattered now, but he just loves it.

“He’s actually got a new one that looks tidy and respectable. We could never bring ourselves to take the old one off him, though.”

This year, Jethro’s companion was Taylor Worthington-Thin, with the camp in New Plymouth from January 7 to January 9.

Camp Quality general manager Sam Fellows said Jethro’s story captured “exactly what Camp Quality is all about”.

“Creating a safe, welcoming space where children who’ve faced serious illness can experience fun, hope and happiness,” Fellows said.

“The one-to-one companion model is what makes our camps so powerful.

“Volunteers like Taylor walk alongside our campers every step of the way, offering encouragement, understanding and a sense of belonging that can be truly life-changing."

This year's disco had an under-the sea theme.

Fellows said running the camps would not be possible without the generosity of supporters.

“Every donation helps us deliver free, medically supported camps for children living with cancer across Aotearoa.”

Phil Chiet said the camp offered a chance for him and wife, Jo Chiet, to recharge.

“The house was pretty quiet while he was away.”

Jethro was in remission and about to start at Whanganui Intermediate School in Year 7, he said

“He’s robust, he’s healthy, and he’s always cackling like a maniac.

“Other kids at these camps are still going through treatment and aren’t out of the woods. I guess we are some of the lucky ones.

“Kids often take their big, long cancer beads to show off. It’s a point of pride.”

Beads of Courage is an initiative from the Child Cancer Foundation, with children given different beads representing treatments, experiences, and milestones.

Chiet said the whole family would be sad when Jethro could not attend the camps any more.

“Maybe, once he’s old enough, he can train up and be a buddy for someone else.”

Camp Quality held its first camp in Auckland in 1985, with 22 children attending from across New Zealand.

It now has camps in five regions for more than 300 children and young people each year.

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present, his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.