BDSRA 2024 Family Conference – St. Louis, MO (July 12-14)
This year’s BDSRA Family Conference in St. Louis was a memorable gathering filled with smiles, support, and community for families affected by Batten disease. Our team at “Camp Explorer” in the affected care room had an incredible two days creating a joyful experience for the children.
A Heartwarming Two Days at Camp Explorer
On Friday morning, the children kicked off their day with an array of toys, games, arts and crafts, and a cozy quiet room for watching and listening to movies. Later, the room was filled with excitement during a special visit from a local therapy dog organization. The dogs, with their soft fur and friendly faces, brought pure joy to everyone in the room.
Saturday morning saw more fun and play, and the highlight of the afternoon was a wonderful session of singing and music, led by a local music therapist. It was heartwarming to see the smiles and laughter throughout the entire weekend.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors and Supporters
This experience was made possible through the generous support of Our Promise to Nicholas Foundation and the Fore Batten Foundation, who helped us provide a childcare agency for the event. Special thanks to BDSRA for their contributions, including providing additional toys, and to the conference families who shared toys with us.
We also extend heartfelt gratitude to Patricia Golden and her quilting group from South Carolina for their donation of 20 beautiful, hand-crafted quilts—each one truly a work of art. Additionally, thank you to Theresa Judge of Southern NH and her quilting team for creating and donating 60 colorful pillowcases for our families to enjoy.
We are grateful for the love and generosity that made this year’s conference such a special experience for our families. Thank you to everyone who made Camp Explorer possible and filled our hearts with hope and warmth. We are blessed to have such a wonderful community!
