Pete Liegl’s personal fight with cancer prompted the Forest River CEO to ask his employees to raise $1 million to help send children diagnosed with childhood cancer to specialized oncology summer camps.
Liegl’s request in August spurred a company-wide call to arms for the cause. It brought needed support to Care Camps. The charity supports more than 130 specialized oncology camps throughout North America that provide a true summer camp experience to children with cancer and their siblings.
The outpouring of help from Forest River stunned Karen McAndrew, executive director of Care Camps.
“The response has been insane,” McAndrew says. “To have Peter and Forest River support us has just been huge.”
Liegl says his battle with cancer opened his eyes to the realities that children with cancer and their families face, including some who work at Forest River.
“When I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood), I spent months undergoing radiation, chemotherapy and stem cell transplant,” Liegl says. “While I was at the hospital going through my treatments, I saw hundreds of children going through all stages of cancer. As an adult, it is easier to accept the reality that life is short, but seeing babies, toddlers and children battling cancer is truly agonizing.”
Liegl says his trips to a Houston public park during his recovery and enjoying nature was an escape from the day-to-day cancer pain.
“Nature was satisfying and comforting to me,” Liegl says. “We want to help create that experience for everyone, especially children who may not otherwise have the opportunity.”
McAndrew said, “We know from our research that children with cancer and their families who attend camp have improved quality of life and create memories that last a lifetime. Healing really does happen here.”
Care Camps are provided at no charge to families and allow kids facing cancer to not only experience the healing of nature, McAndrew says, but also develop a support system of friends who understand their struggles.
Forest River team members across the county have been asked to volunteer at local camps, personally donate, or create their own fundraisers for the cause.
Forest River Product General Manager Kevin McArt, for instance, is hoping to raffle off a trailer to support Care Camps.
Group General Manager Doug Gaeddert says cancer first impacted him at age six, when his mom was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid.
“At 26, mom was the center of our family’s universe,” Gaeddert says. “This was the first time that I saw my father cry, and I will never forget my feelings at the time.”
Gaeddert says his company chose to support Care Camps because as an industry leader, Forest River could make a huge impact on the mission of the non-profit’s mission.
“This would be an opportunity to literally bring some ‘sunshine’ into the lives of kids battling cancer, and the families supporting them,” Gaeddert says. “All of us are, and have been impacted by cancer in some way, shape or form. It was a unanimous vote by our management group to significantly support Care Camps.”
