Every now and then something special comes along that isn’t along the normal lines that we write about, but we feel that we just have to tell people about it, and this week we had one of those moments. On Wednesday we had the opportunity to meet a very special group of people at one of our favourite secret hideaway spots, Restaurante Finca Tres Roques, located in the beautiful mountains of Ifonche in the south of Tenerife.
Whilst tucking into our grilled goat’s cheese and tasty mojo chicken, two full buses arrived, filled with happy families. Nothing unusual there, as the Venture Group organises weekly buses from Playa de las Américas and La Caleta. However, on this occasion many of the children were amputees, as Venture were hosting a free meal for the families staying at the amputee rehabilitation camp called ‘Amp Camp Kids’.
Firstly, we were introduced to Ben Lovell, the founder of this very special rehabilitation centre. Ben is an amazing character who lost half of his right leg in July 2017, after suffering a blood clot, and was shocked at the lack of help and emotional support he and his family received. After managing to pull himself through some of the darkest times of his life, he made it his lifelong mission to help other amputees in the same situation.
Following this, Ben created Amp Camp, a unique rehabilitation camp set in the Canary Islands, in association with Paula and Rick Dawson at Tenerife Retreat, a stunning 10-bedroom villa in the south of Tenerife, where guests can come and spend a week listening to Ben and share their own experiences.
During their stay, they have a personal chef, nutritionist, fitness programme, and work on all the things they think they need to help them move forward with their new life.
So far, they have already had three massively successful Amp Camps for adults, and on the first camp one guest, who had not left her wheelchair in two years, managed to stand up and stay up for her entire visit.
But Ben had another dream, he wanted to focus on children and their families, and help them come to terms with their new way of life, which is how Amp Camp Kids was born. Amp Camp Kids select children who have suffered amputation through sepsis, meningitis, cancer, or other serious health issues, and invite them and their whole family to stay at the camp absolutely free.
It is all aimed at having fun, giving them back a piece of their childhood that many have missed out on due to having so many treatments and hospital visits, but it also allows parents and siblings to join in and create some much needed happy memories together. The week is packed with many different activities such as water parks, boat trips, beach days, magicians, and special meals out like on Wednesday.
We had the pleasure to meet so many incredible children, and the bravery and positivity of them all was truly humbling to see. One of the children we met was Albie Thomas, the youngest person to ever walk Mount Snowden, born with a condition meaning he had his foot amputated at 15 months old, but proving that life without limbs can be as fulfilling as you make it.
And for us, to be able to witness the children getting on so well together, laughing, eating, playing, enjoying the park, meeting their favourite superheroes and even paying a visit to meet the chickens, you can see exactly why Amp Camp Kids was created, and how life-changing it is for the children and their families.
So, from all of us at Canarian Weekly, we want to say a massive thankyou to the Venture Group for inviting us along, and well done to all involved in this fantastic cause. Amp Camp would also like to thank everyone who has already donated, without you this wouldn't be possible. If you would like to offer any help, support or to make a donation to the Amp Camp, then please click on the link below: https://gogetfunding.com/ampcamp-kids-2/
