WBC Silver Champ Raja Amasheh and Team Cheer Up Kids at Pediatric Cancer Foundation Camp

From WBC:

AHOY! RAJA AMASHEH AND DOMINIK JUNGE VISIT “FOREST PIRATES” IN HEIDELBERG, GERMANY

WBC Women’s Silver Flyweight Champion Raja Amasheh and her coach Dominik Junge visited the “Forest Pirates Camp” in Heidelberg, Germany, a facility established by the German Pediatric Cancer Foundation which hosts children suffering from cancer along with their siblings.

The “Forest Pirates Camp” is a unique institution in Germany inspired by summer camps in the US and Ireland. As we all know, cancer doesn’t factor in age. In Germany, more than 2,000 children suffer from this terrible illness. Although there is a good chance for recovery in many cases, the treatment leaves its mark. In many cases there are physical and psychological consequential damages which are treated in the “Forest Pirates Camp” just like the illness itself.

The kids can play, go climbing, hiking or canoeing. The basic concept of the camp is adventure and experiential education combined with group therapy. The young patients are learning from each other to find ways back into ever day life.

When Raja Amasheh and Dominik Junge were asked to visit the camp they immediately jumped at the chance, jumped in the car and brought Raja’s championship belt along with some t-shirts and other gifts to the camp. Forty two kids were thrilled to meet a professional boxing champion and her coach who taught some of them a couple of boxing basics.

“I am so impressed with the courage, optimism and joy of these children despite their battles,” says Raja. “They are full of positive energy. That’s great to see. You can only admire and love all the kids as well as the staff and the many volunteers running the camp. This is a place of hope which is full of life and laughter where nobody thinks about illness. We had a great time and I think the kids enjoyed our visit. I sincerely hope that the “Forest Pirates” will be there forever and that there will be more facilities following their example. We will surely be back.”