Connor is a typical twelve year old boy. He likes playing his XBox and riding his quad bike on the vacant land out the back of his family's house. He likes cars, animals and having fun.
What's not typical about Connor is that he has a very rare genetic skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa (also commonly referred to as E.B. or 'Cotton-Wool Kids'). This means that his skin is extremely fragile and blisters very easily.
Due to the high level of medical care Connor requires, he has not been able to go on a camp before with other children his age. During the January school holidays this year however, Connor and his mother Bree attended the Lifestyle Solutions Leisure Links camp with a group of other children and young people.
Leisure Links camps are three day, two night camps held at a property in NSW and are run in pertnership with the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care and the NSW Department of Education. The camps provide children and their carers the opportunity for some time away from home to engage with other children and participate in exciting activities such as horse riding, flying fox rides, swimming and lots more.
Before the camp, Connor's Lifestyle Solutions carer Michelle organised a two-and-a-half hour ride in a bright yellow Hummer for Connor, where he sat excitedly up the front asking lots of questions before riding in the back with the disco and karaoke machine.
Connor's mother Bree spoke afterwards of the hard working, caring staff Lifestyle Solutions have on camp. She said that they were very flexible and inclusive of her and Conner and she felt comfortable and welcome from the start.
Bree was impressed by the genuine care and affection shown from the carers to the campers.
As for Connor, he enjoyed the archery most, but thought that the flying fox was fun, as well as the horses and cows that were scattered around the property.
He said he felt included in everything even though he didn't do all of the activities with the other kids.
Going on the camp was a great experience that has lifted Connor's spirits. This was important as he had recently been unwell and the camp gave him the chance to do some fun things with other kids in a safe, happy environment.
For more information on our Youth Education and Recreation Programs, check out our New South Wales services page.