Georges Fitness Pals
Fitness Equipment Donations
Research shows that staying active for individuals with Pompe disease and other rare diseases has a monumental impact on muscle control, endurance, reduction in disease progression, and improved respiratory function. https://www.rarediseaseadvisor.com/patient-columns/importance-staying-active-pompe-disease/
As a newly formed nonprofit, it is our intent at George’s Pompe Pals to provide at no cost adaptive exercise equipment to families with children affected by rare diseases. We understand that not only the children with these rare conditions are impacted, but their siblings feel the effects as well. Our mission is to offer specialty exercise equipment that promotes family involvement and keeps everyone active. For example, George’s Pompe Pals can provide adaptive swings, bicycles, sensory equipment, climbers, and much more! Additionally, we are excited to announce that we will also be offering family vacation scholarships and summer camp scholarships to further support families as they seek to create joyful experiences together.
Thanks to our generous donors and sponsors, we can provide this adaptive exercise equipment and these scholarships to the families of children with rare diseases at no cost to them.
Georges Summer Camp Pals
Summer Camp Scholarships
Children and their families dealing with rare diseases often experience feelings of isolation and a lack of understanding within their communities. At George’s Pompe Pals, we strive to alleviate this sense of loneliness by offering summer camp scholarships designed to include children with rare diseases in activities alongside their peers. Independence is a vital benefit of attending camp. For instance, an overnight mainstream camp can provide special-needs kids the opportunity to spend a week away from parents, doctors, or physical therapists. This environment encourages them to take on more responsibilities for themselves and learn to seek assistance from friends, thereby enhancing their problem-solving and communication skills.
According to Children’s Minnesota, some of the benefits of attending camps include:
- increased confidence and independence
- activity and exercise
- the chance to interact with other kids, develop friendships, and build relationships
- positive role modeling by adults
- a much-needed break for parents
As a newly established nonprofit, George’s Pompe Pals is dedicated to providing scholarships—either partial or full, depending on a family’s needs—for their child to attend a summer camp program. We also recognize the importance of adaptive exercise equipment in promoting physical activity for children with special needs.
Our organization has researched and identified several camps that could be beneficial, such as:
- Easter Seals Summer Camps- https://www.easterseals.com/get-support/areas-of-support/camp-recreation
- Jett Foundation- https://www.jettfoundation.org/camp-promise/campers/
- MDA Summer Camp- https://www.mda.org/summer-camp
Additionally, we are excited to announce family vacation scholarships to help families make the most of their time together during the summer.
Georges Vacation Pals
Georges Vacation Pals
Getaway Scholarships
Families affected by Pompe disease and other rare diseases often find themselves spending extensive time in hospitals, undergoing treatment, therapy, and attending various appointments. The thought of traveling can be daunting for these families, especially when considering what medical equipment, such as adaptive exercise equipment, to bring along, treatment plans if they need care out of state, and the challenges of being away from their doctors. However, many families dealing with rare diseases believe that a getaway is just what they need to escape the struggles of daily life and truly enjoy the moments they have together.
Georges Pompe Pals, a newly formed nonprofit, aims to assist families in taking much-needed trips away from the hospital environment. Whether it's a small getaway or a larger family vacation, we strive to provide family vacation scholarships that can help cover travel, hotel accommodations, park passes, and more. Our goal is to enable families to spend quality time together outside of their everyday life, creating cherished memories. Additionally, we are exploring options for summer camp scholarships that can further enrich the experiences of these families.
