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You Have the Power to Support Grieving Families & Adults

Make a donation today to give a family or an adult a free bereavement retreat

Camp because I said I would offers bereavement retreats that help grieving families and individuals begin to heal, thanks to the generosity of donors like you. We offer support in two ways:

Level 1: Time Away with Family – A no-cost stay in our resort cabins for families who have lost a loved one, offering quiet time together in nature without workshops or guided activities.
Level 2: Adult Bereavement Retreat – A supportive retreat for adults that includes guided workshops on mental health and resiliency, along with time to rest and reflect.

Wesley lost his 27-year-old daughter in a tragic car accident caused by a texting truck driver.

Wesley lost his daughter Andrea in a tragic car accident in 2011. She was just 27 and expecting her second child. Since then, Wesley has walked alongside his wife Linda on their grief journey, including joint counseling. He attends the retreat to find community, expand his understanding of grief, and support his wife’s ongoing advocacy efforts.

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Victoria lost her son, an Olympic hopeful, who was shot and killed in 2020.

In 2020, Victoria lost her son to a shooting. He was one of the best shooters in the world and an Olympic hopeful. After his death, she began a spiritual journey, working with global mentors like Dr. Joe Dispenza and Tony Robbins. “I created a global movement after my son died,” she writes. Victoria has since become deeply involved in grief programs and hopes to connect with other mothers at the retreat—for their healing and her own.

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Twylla lost her daughter, who lived with special needs and was on a ventilator for 32 years.

Twylla's daughter lived on a ventilator for 32 years, with Twylla providing full-time in-home care throughout her life. Eight months ago, they made the heartbreaking decision to remove her from life support. The loss has been devastating. Twylla shared that her daughter was her world, and without her, she feels lost and without purpose. She and her husband are retired and facing not only deep emotional grief but a drastic shift in daily life and finances. She hopes the retreat can offer some healing and direction in a life that now feels unbearably quiet.

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Tonya experienced the loss of her mother and father

Tonya has endured the deaths of both her parents within a span of several years, beginning with her mother in 2012 and her father in 2020. Managing chronic health issues while processing this grief has made the journey more complex. She is now seeking ways to build resilience. “I hope to gain coping skills,” she shared, as she continues navigating life after loss.

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Tomica lost her son Anthony to drowning in June 2023.

Tomica lost her son, Anthony, on June 28, 2023, due to drowning. Since his passing, she’s participated in a couple of group therapy sessions and is now seeking a more intentional path forward. She shared that she hopes the bereavement retreat will help her learn to navigate this loss in a healthy way.

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Terraine lost his grandmother, Iris Reid, to a medical condition

In 2024, Terraine lost his grandmother, Iris, a deeply meaningful figure in his life. While he hasn’t yet sought counseling, he previously attended this retreat and found value in the space it offers. He returns seeking connection, reflection, and continued healing.

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Summer lost her father (83) after a long illness and hospice care in 2024.

Summer was adopted into a loving blended family that fostered over 300 children. Her father, the steady anchor of the home, passed away in March 2024 from cirrhosis complications after entering hospice. “I held his hand as he took his final breath.” Summer, now pregnant, is mourning not just the loss of her dad, but the absence he’ll have in her child's life. Her mother is now raising younger children and a foster grandson on her own. A retreat offers Summer and her family a space to heal, reconnect, and be seen in their grief

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Sara lost her best friend to cancer complications and her nephew to an accidental gunshot

Sara is carrying the weight of two painful losses—her best friend Dana, who died from cancer complications, and her nephew Jimmy, who passed from an accidental gunshot wound. Their absence has left deep emotional wounds. Through virtual support groups and therapy, she’s been trying to find stability in the chaos of grief. With courage, she’s attending the retreat to gain tools for coping and to better navigate the shame and stigma that can often accompany loss.

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Patrika lost her son, Prophet (19), to homicide in February 2025.

Patrika is grieving the loss of her 19-year-old son, Prophet Thomas-Applin, who was taken by homicide. She has begun seeking support through trauma recovery group counseling and individual counseling at OSU, but the loneliness of this loss has been overwhelming. Patrika is coming to the retreat hoping to find healthy ways to carry her grief and learn how to face life alone for the first time.

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Misty lost her only son, Brandon (23), after he was struck by a car while walking in a crosswalk.

Misty lost her only son in a sudden pedestrian accident, and life has felt unrecognizable ever since. They were incredibly close, living together and sharing the rhythm of daily life. His absence has left her feeling deeply disconnected. Despite seeing a therapist, grief-specific support has been hard to find. She shared, “I hope to be in a place with others who understand the depth of this type of loss.” At this retreat, Misty hopes to find guidance, connection, and the strength to carry her grief without letting it harden or consume her.

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Mike lost his wife, Sherry, to colon and brain cancer in March 2025.

Mike lost his wife, Sherry, in March 2025 to colon and brain cancer. The pain of that loss is compounded by layers of past grief—he is also adopted, lost his adoptive mother, and is a cancer survivor himself. “I’ve been cancer-free for 12 years,” Mike shared, but now he faces the emotional toll of grief without her. He hopes this retreat will help him process not only Sherry’s death but the loneliness and emotional weight that has followed.

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Michelle lost her son Isaac (23) to suicide in September 2025.

Michelle and Eric lost their son, Isaac, to suicide on September 30, 2025. Since then, they’ve each been doing their best to process the loss—Michelle through in-person and online grief support groups, including art therapy and Suicide Loss Day, and Eric through mentorship, clergy, and an 8-week program he recently began. Michelle shared that she often feels like she’s “on a teeter-totter,” her emotions rising and falling daily. Eric put it plainly: “It’s hard.” At this retreat, they hope to find support, tools for healing, and connection with others who understand what they’re going through.

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Mary lost her son, Simon, in January 2026 due to respiratory failure following a complex long-term medical history.

Mary recently lost her son due to respiratory failure, following a complex and long-term medical history. His passing is very recent, and she comes to the retreat without previous support programs or therapy—only the hope of learning how to navigate this grief and, in time, offer support to others walking a similar path.

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Marcie lost her son, Sgt. Donovan, in an accident at age 24

Marcie’s son, Sgt. Donovan Holliday, was only 24 when his life was taken in an accident. She describes him as “an amazing, impactful young man” and carries the weight of all the roles he filled—Marine, father, husband, son, and more. Marcie attends weekly therapy and has found some support through GriefShare and Compassionate Friends, but the pain remains. She’s coming to the retreat seeking support and guidance—hoping to find a way to keep living without deepening the ache she already carries.

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Maddie has experienced multiple family losses in a short time, including her grandmother, father, aunt, and grandfather.

Maddie is grieving the recent loss of her grandmother in September, on top of the loss of both her father and aunt to overdose in the same week, and her grandfather the year before. She’s received professional support and engaged in residential and PHP therapy, as well as participation in the GRASP community. Maddie hopes the bereavement retreat offers her space for connection and acceptance. “I’m looking for some acceptance and a sense of community.”

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Lois lost her only daughter, Amy Beth, in December 2025 after a spinal cord injury led to pneumonia and sepsis.

Lois recently lost her only daughter to complications from a spinal cord injury. The grief is fresh and heavy, but she finds strength in her faith. While she hasn’t yet participated in bereavement support programs, she is turning to this retreat for coping skills and connection. “Being with others who understand the grief I feel” is something she hopes will bring comfort in this difficult chapter.

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Linda lost her 27-year-old pregnant daughter in a car accident caused by a texting truck driver.

Linda lost her daughter Andrea, who was pregnant with her second child, in a tragic car accident caused by a texting driver. Since that life-altering moment, Linda has become a writer, author, and advocate for grief support. She’s participated in multiple support groups and continues her mission of helping others find hope. She joins the retreat to deepen her education, connect in person, and continue honoring her daughter through advocacy.

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Kelly lost her autistic son, who was shot and killed in November 2024.

Kelly is grieving the death of her son, who was shot and killed in November 2024. She has been attending grief counseling and participates in Mothers of Murdered Children events in Columbus. Kelly shares that she is struggling to live with this loss and is seeking tools to help her navigate life without her son. “I am not finding a way to live with this loss.”

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Judith lost her adult son in April 2023 after sudden complications related to his heart.

Judith lost her son, Benjamin, April 2023. Officially, his passing was attributed to heart complications from obesity, but she suspects it was related to tainted medication. “It was a complete shock,” she said. “Some guilt still lingers.” She has found sharing with others who are grieving to be helpful, and now hopes the retreat will give her a dedicated space to step back from the noise and better understand her grief.

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Juan lost his 20-year-old daughter to gun violence in 2020

Juan lost his daughter, Alexandrea, to gun violence in 2020 when she was just 20 years old. Since then, grief has lived quietly inside him, heavy and ever-present. While he hasn’t had access to professional support, he hopes this retreat will offer space to release the pain and anger he's held for so long. He’s attending alongside Cynthia, Alexandrea’s mother, to find stillness, support, and the tools to carry his daughter’s memory forward with more peace.

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John lost his nephew Jimmy to an accidental gunshot

John is grieving the sudden and tragic loss of his nephew Jimmy, who died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shock of that moment has rippled through his life, prompting him to seek space for reflection and healing. John is attending the retreat in hopes of processing his grief and finding connection with others who understand the pain of such a loss.

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Joelle lost her husband to glioblastoma in January 2025.

Joelle lost her husband, Mike, on January 28, 2025, after glioblastoma. She has participated in 13 weeks of Grief Share, but this retreat will be her first immersive bereavement experience. She hopes to find connection, support, and learn new ways to cope with the sadness that remains. “I’m seeking connection, support, and coping techniques.”

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Jodi lost her beloved husband, Seldon, in December 2025 due to Streptococcus A

Jodi lost her beloved husband, Seldon, in December to complications from Streptococcus A. The pain is fresh, and she is just beginning to face the depth of her grief. Without professional support so far, she’s coming to the retreat in search of understanding and guidance: “Help with going forward without him,” she writes simply. This is her first step toward healing, surrounded by others who understand what it means to lose someone you love.

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Hope lost her 19-year-old son, Justin, to murder

Hope lost her 19-year-old son, Justin, to murder in 2016. Since his passing, she has sought support through counseling and bereavement programs including Grief 2 Hope and Grief Share. Hope comes to the retreat seeking continued grief support and connection.

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Heather lost her mother suddenly to a heart attack in September 2024

Heather lost her mother, Evelyn, to a sudden heart attack. They spoke every single day—about everything. Her mom was her rock. The loss was unexpected and came just as they were planning a special family trip, one of the only things her mother had said she wanted. Now, Heather says she feels completely lost. She’s in therapy and seeking help wherever she can, hoping this retreat will help her process her grief and find a way forward.

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Eric lost his son Isaac (23) to suicide in September 2025.

Eric and Michelle lost thier son, Isaac, to suicide on September 30, 2025. Since then, they’ve each been doing their best to process the loss—Michelle through in-person and online grief support groups, including art therapy and Suicide Loss Day, and Eric through mentorship, clergy, and an 8-week program he recently began. Michelle shared that she often feels like she’s “on a teeter-totter,” her emotions rising and falling daily. Eric put it plainly: “It’s hard.” At this retreat, they hope to find support, tools for healing, and connection with others who understand what they’re going through.

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David lost his only son, Brandon (23), in a hit-and-run while he was crossing the street.

David lost his only son in a tragic hit-and-run accident in the summer of 2025. His son was just 23 years old. Since that day, David has been trying to carry the weight of that loss on his own. “I miss my son. I think about him all the time,” he shares. This retreat marks the first time he’s reaching out for support, hoping to find even a moment of peace in the presence of others who understand the deep ache of losing someone you love.

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Cynthia lost her 20-year-old daughter to gun violence in 2020

Cynthia is grieving the loss of her daughter, Alexandrea, who died due to gun violence in March 2020. Even years later, she continues to carry deep sadness and is seeking space to relax, release anger, and begin healing. Through therapy, group support, and the ACE Project, she has taken steps forward, and she hopes this retreat will offer peace, connection, and a chance to breathe again.

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Crystal lost her mother after a 20-year fight with congestive heart failure.

Crystal shared that her mother’s first heart attack happened when Crystal was only 10, and after a long 20-year battle with congestive heart failure, she passed away. Crystal says she never had the chance to stop and grieve, and then her grandmother died just three weeks later after a fall. With two young children at home and limited income, Crystal is carrying the weight of loss while trying to keep life moving forward, hoping this retreat can finally give her space to grieve and begin healing.

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Brandice lost her teenage son to suicide in March 2024.

Brandice lost her son to suicide in March 2024. Since his death, she has been living with deep sadness and ongoing grief. She has received some counseling and attended a few GriefShare sessions, but continues to struggle with processing the weight of her loss. Through this retreat, Brandice hopes for space to begin working through her grief and to be supported while navigating the pain of losing her child.

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Barbie lost her special-needs sister after years of caregiving.

Barbie lost her sister, Kimberly, after years of acting as her full-time caregiver and legal guardian. Following a series of traumatic events that began with assaults and hospitalizations, Kimberly’s health declined until her passing. Barbie has been immersed in advocacy work ever since, even founding a nonprofit in her sister’s name. While she’s participated in grief counseling and art therapy, Barbie shared that caring for her sister began shortly after losing her father—and she never truly had space to process either loss. She’s attending the retreat in hopes of finally beginning that journey.

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Anonymous participant lost her husband after a year-long battle with lymphoma

A widow lost her husband in July 2025 after a year-long battle with lymphoma and stomach cancer. Before his diagnosis, he had already faced serious health challenges, but remained a kind and loving presence in their family. “After he retired in 2017, he cooked me dinner almost every night when I came home from school,” she shared. She hopes for a peaceful retreat to process her grief, connect with others who understand loss, and begin finding joy again through resilience.

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