Candlelighters treated to morning junket
Seventeen kids, ages 8 to 18, that have been diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders, took part in a kayak paddle Saturday morning at Gulf Coast Kayaks on Matlacha.
“This is a kayak paddle for Candlelighters of Southwest Florida,” member Christine Strom said. “We like to offer fun events for the kids. Our executive founder, Klair Snellbaker, who is with us today, arranged this and all kinds of activities for the kids to get out and enjoy life and to have a good time.”
Candlelighters was founded by Snellbaker shortly before the loss of her daughter Erin to cancer in 1984. Erin was diagnosed with cancer when she was 2 and died from the disease at just 4 years old. The website www.candlelightersswfl.org has a page entitled “On Erin’s Wings.”
“I started the organization when my daughter got sick,” Snellbaker said. “Back then there just wasn’t any support for families dealing with cancer. I started just a small support group of local families and families I would meet along the way because treatment was done out of town. There wasn’t anything locally. I did find in the areas of the hospitals there was support but when you came back home there wasn’t anybody to talk to. Since then we’ve grown to over 500 families in a five county area.”
Since 1983 Candlelighters has helped Southwest Florida families cope with the life changing effects of having a child diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder. Candlelighters defines its mission as “to provide support, education and assistance to families of children with cancer or blood disorders and the professionals who care for them.” Candlelighters families come from Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades and Lee counties to enjoy fun, family days together.
Bryan and Diana Stockbridge purchased Gulf Coast Kayak’s 2 years ago. “Christine approached us about a donation for one of the events Candlelighters was having and we donated a couple of tours,” Diana Stockbridge said. “After those events Bryan and I were discussing what more can we do and decided on having a group of kids on the water. We hope to make this an annual event.”
The guide for the day was lead guide Jim Niehaus, the assistant organizer and ACA certified kayak and SUP instructor at Gulf Coast Kayak. Born under the sign of the moon and the element of water, Niehaus has found a home in Southwest Florida.
“This body of water is probably the best place in the world to kayak,” Niehaus said. “When you get out there it’s like stepping back in time.
“Today the kids will learn a number of things,” he continued. “First, how to be safe on the water. This involves the 5W’s: water, wind, waves, wildlife and weather. And, because the Calusa Indians were here for 5,000 years, I will also include some Calusa history. Once the kids are on the water there will be plenty of wildlife. Dolphins, manatees, and plenty of fish and birds.”
The children left shore about 9:30 and spent the next three hours paddling around Matlacha Pass.
Candlelighters serves approximately 450 families in a five county area providing support, education and advocacy to children as well as the professionals that care for them.
The people who contributed to this successful event were Gulf Coast Kayak, Pine Island Winn-Dixie, Little Lilly’s Deli and Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. The event was made possible through the generosity, kindness and support of them all.
All children with cancer or blood disorders and their families are eligible to receive benefits of membership. Members are not required to pay dues and will receive the quarterly newsletter and other mailings at no cost. Community supporters, healthcare professionals and extended family members may become active supporters financially or serve as volunteers with the charity. They are not eligible for benefits designed for childhood cancer or blood disorder families.
Contact Candlelighters of Southwest Florida, at 9981 S. HealthPark Drive Fort Myers, FL 33908; call 219-283-2223 or email: info@CandlelightersSWFW.org