From the Desk of Page Aiken:
Whether you have grown up in this area, or just started a new season here, most would agree that we are extremely fortunate to live in the Golden Isles. In the last decade, our once sleepy Georgia coastline has been "discovered", and thousands have flocked to move to our sea. What is it about the Golden Isles that is so special? I can say without a doubt that beyond our area's unique natural beauty, and in spite of our brackish water, it's the hearts of our local people that make our skies shine so blue.
Blue Skies are Here Again!
Blue Skies is a non-profit organization that provides week-long beach camps for families with a child stricken by pediatric cancer. As marriages, finances, and siblings all suffer, this wonderful ministry, directed by former oncology nurse Melinda Mayton, brings 10-12 weary families to the beach each week of the summer. Volunteers raise funds to cover the guests' expenses, then lovingly serve and care for them, allowing the families a time of restoration - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Children are loved on and played with like "normal", adults are ministered to and connect with others on kindred journeys, and the families are treated to fun events and unique experiences that lift them above the clouds of childhood cancer.
For more than a decade, Blue Skies camps have been held on the gulf coast of Florida, where our local friends Chris and Cassie Busby were guests in 2016 and 2017 when their 3-year-old son Chase was battling leukemia. The Busby's were so positively impacted by their experience at Blue Skies, they began recruiting others to go back and volunteer together, in- cluding me and my family starting in 2018. After a few years of gaining support here locally and finding a growing number of volunteers traveling to Florida each year to participate, we asked the director to consider hosting at least one week of the camps here on St. Simons, which she excitedly agreed to, and Blue Skies SSI kicked off in July 2021.
Since then, the Golden Isles has rallied around this mission, hosting Blue Skies camps and special weekend retreats the last several years, and our expectations of how hospitable our community can be have been far exceeded. As we share the blessings of our island with our appreciative guests year after year, we continue to be blown away by the generosity, love, and support of our neighbors. Many of our local restaurants, like Sandy Bottom Bagels, Dolce Dough, Chick Fil A, CJ's, Tortuga Jacks, and V-Pizza, commonly donate or discount meals for our group.
We are able to offer local excursions like boat rides, horseback riding, and kayaking to families that have never been able to do such things. The staff at Sea Palms and (this year) King and Prince have bent over backwards for us, ensuring a pristine and perfect headquarters for Blue Skies' 120 guests and volunteers. Bucket-list wishes have been granted by our local harbor pilots, Island Cinemas makes room for us on rainy days, and Neptune Park Pool and the Casino are perfect venues for the camp's evening events. It has truly been a joy to share so many of our favorite amenities with these dear guest families.
One of the most special events of the week is our finale "parade" from Sea Palms to the beautiful Village Creek Landing for our benediction dinner. For the last few summers as we've joined the procession, our hearts were exploding with gratitude as we passed by dozens of our friends and neighbors lining the streets, showing support of Blue Skies with waves, cheers, and homemade signs. Glynn County fire and police vehicles escort the parade of decorated golf carts, and police officers stay at Village Creek to award each patient and sibling a "Courageous Hero" medal. Crabdaddy's has surprised us with a complete donation of the evening's delicious meal, and we finish the week with fireworks at sunset. The camp's culmination in this way could not be a more glorious display of the warm hearts of our locals.
One of our local officers shared this reflection on the Glynn County fire department's Facebook page after that first SSI camp:
"The words courage and strength have become overused adjectives in our world. Yet the character, strength, and courage which these children and their siblings display is a level which very few of us will ever achieve. For us to be a brief part of their camp is a blessing beyond words... Thank you kids, thank you families; God bless each and every one of you. We pray that your bodies are made whole and hope we can borrow a little of your strength to make us a better person."
Indeed, we ask for continued prayers for the children of Blue Skies until there is a cure for childhood cancer. And next week, we are looking forward to hosting another week of Blue Skies at the King and Prince as our home base for our guests. And we THANK YOU, Glynn County St. Simons, the Golden Isles - for helping us be God's hands and feet in loving service to these families. I am certain there is no other community in the world with such warmth and kindness. My family is incredibly blessed to call this place home.
We invite you join in cheering for the parade of our Blue Skies courageous heroes this Thursday, June 27th-starting @ 6:00 pm!
The group will gather at Sea Palms clubhouse and proceed through the north half of Sea Palms, up Frederica Road towards Bennies, right on South Harrington to Village Creek Landing. Any and all support is so very appreciated! Want to learn more about Blue Skies, make a donation, or help out at one of our SSI events? Contact me anytime or visit
blueskiesministries.org.
