Kate Lee’s volunteering story

It takes a special person to give up their time to help others, which is why Child Cancer Foundation is so grateful for the incredible volunteers who support our work. Each year, an exceptional group of these volunteers play a vital role in running our SIBS Camps, a special support programme organised specifically for siblings of children with cancer.

SIBS (Specially Important Brothers and Sisters) Camps give siblings a chance to make friendships, build confidence and learn tools to cope with the challenges that come with having a brother or sister with cancer. Each camp is run by 10-15 volunteers, who receive specific training to ensure that the weekend is fun and safe for each child.

Volunteers for SIBS Camps come from a wide range of backgrounds, and each has a different reason for wanting to give up their time to help siblings enjoy their special weekend. For Kate Lee, who volunteered at her first SIBS Camp last year, the motivation was personal – she had already attended several camps as a kid when her younger sister was going through childhood cancer.

“I still remember the immense impact the camps had on my life growing up, which inspired me to return to the camp as a volunteer,” says Kate. “I remember making so many friends, and these friendships were special because they knew what it was like to have a sibling with cancer.”

Kate is now determined to pay forward the experience she had at SIBS Camps by being there to help current siblings of children with cancer. She is passionate about helping others bring out the best in themselves, making her the perfect person to help siblings recognise their strengths and understand their significance in their family.

Her highlight of her first SIBS Camp as a volunteer was seeing the kids express their creativity through a t-shirt decoration activity, and having them open up to her at dinner on the first night about all the things they were looking forward to over the weekend.

“It’s extremely meaningful to be able to be a part of the kids’ special weekend away, but also help to relieve some of the stress and pressure that their family faces throughout the cancer journey,” she says. “Taking on a volunteer role for the camp is not easy, but it is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences you can have in your whole life.”