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FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Local occurrence and constabulary departments went head-to-head astatine Champ Camp successful Wonder Valley Wednesday.
The yearly chili cook-off celebrates each the organizations that donate to support the campy free.
“This situation brings them to wherever they get to beryllium astir different 100-plus kids that person experienced what they've experienced,” Camp Director Chris Bridger said.
Every year, the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation hosts the campy for terrible pain survivors.
“It costs astir $1,000 to nonstop a kid to camp, and it's 100% escaped to the families. It does not outgo them a penny,” Bridger said.
Bridger says winning the cook-off is simply a spot of an ego boost.
“You know, we say, ‘aw, it’s conscionable a chili cook-off. No large deal.’ But, you know, occurrence departments are a small competitive, right? So we privation to win, and whoever wins has to leap successful the lake,” Bridger said.
However, helium says conscionable getting to provender bare campers immoderate delicious chili is crushed capable to celebrate.
Wonder Valley CEO Mike Berg says the campy changes lives each year.
“[Campers] request a spot to conscionable fto down. They request a spot to beryllium themselves. They request a spot wherever they tin beryllium comfortable,” Berg said.
Counselors successful Training (CITs) similar “Goldie” and “Coast” grew up spending parts of their summers there.
“I’m wanted and I person a spot here,” Goldie said.
Now, they get to sew into the adjacent procreation of survivors.
“I consciousness similar listening to their stories has made maine a batch much arrogant of myself and arrogant of what I've go and however I've gotten through,” Coast said.
They accidental pain survivors tin transportation heavy affectional and carnal scars.
At Champ Camp, they get 1 week wherever nary 1 stares oregon asks questions – 1 week they’re not alone.
“Because of this foundation, due to the fact that of this camp, it makes maine recognize conscionable however overmuch my communicative has affected my beingness and however I wouldn't alteration it for a azygous thing,” Coast said.
The campy is heavy babelike connected donations and volunteers. They accidental assemblage members tin assistance nonstop kids to campy by donating at AARBF.org.
