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HeartKids have time of their lives at teen camp

Jessica NicoFremantle Gazette

THEY are all living with congenital heart disease (CHD), but that did not stop more than 70 teenagers having the time of their lives at a HeartKids Teen Camp on Rottnest Island last weekend.

The teenagers, 12 from WA and the rest from around Australia, left Rous Head for the three-day camp, which started in 2009 as a way to meet others living with CHD and have a fun weekend away from the stress of their conditions, with activities including snorkelling, swimming, Segway tours, team challenges and a cooking class.

HeartKids chief executive Mark Brooke said most of the teenagers could not wait to attend the camp each year.

“The Teen Camp is really important in allowing young people to connect with others of shared experience and helping them develop friendships beyond their home cities and states,” he said.

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“As children get older they tend to derive a lot of support from those they can relate to, and it’s this kind of support network that the Teen Camp fosters.

“Perhaps most importantly though, the camp is an opportunity for teens to enjoy themselves without having to think about some of the day-to-day worries in their lives.”

Visit www.heartkids.org.au for more information.