Camp Wannahealyah

PAUL NEWMAN BENEFITS LOCAL CANCER CHARITY'S NATURAL HEALING CAMP

The Melonhead Foundation, a local pediatric cancer charity, held a summer session of Camp Wannahealyah in Jerome, Arizona, funded by a grant from Paul Newman & Newman’s Own Charities.

The Foundation, established in 1997, has a threefold purpose:

1) To support the financial needs of pediatric cancer patients and their families through grants paid to service providers. All funds benefit patients directly, and no money is given to research. These needs are whatever the family deems necessary; personal needs, natural healing modalities or medical expenses.

2) To provide a Resource Center for all cancer patients for natural and integrative healing modalities.

3) To provide natural healing through Camp Wannahealyah, a healing home environment that teaches and implements natural healing for pediatric cancer patients and their family members to affect a cure.

Patient-aid grants and the Resource Center have been on going since June 1999. To date, the Foundation has approved 53 grants and has awarded over $31,000 to children with cancer and their families. The Foundation's local sponsors for these two programs include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Basha's, Scottsdale 20/30 Club and Wal-Mart.

Mr. Newman is the only benefactor thus far to aid the creation of Camp Wannahealyah. The first prototype of Camp Wannahealyah was created in Mesa in February 2002, assisting 8 year-old Keelin Depas and her family. The results were a huge success.

This second prototype, held in Jerome, AZ at The Surgeon’s House B&B,  included the same type protocols for Austhan Jager, 17, and his family. Mr. Newman funded both camps.

Camp Wannahealyah provides natural healing modalities, in a loving home environment, for cancer patients under age 21 and their family members. Yoga Masters, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, and a variety of natural healers donated their services for the weeklong session July 21 - July 28. Volunteers  also supported the household duties of cooking, gardening and cleaning.

The focus of the camp is to return patients to an environment filled with love, old-fashioned family values, nature’s beauty, meditative practices and natural healing to affect a cure in their lives. The Melonhead Foundation gifts this camp experience to the patients and their families.

Local business merchants, such as The Jerome Palace, the English Kitchen and The Asylum, donated food and services. Safeway’s corporate office also donated food. The Verde Canyon Railroad  provided free passes so the family and volunteers could experience the natural beauty of AZ.

As these prototypes are completed, The Melonhead Foundation intends that the credibility and value of Camp Wannahealyah’s vision will allow more grant support to finally establish a permanent camp here in Northern Arizona to serve pediatric cancer patients seeking natural healing modalities on a year round basis.