Camp Simcha is always there for siblings, but the highlight of the year is Sibling Retreat.

Often the forgotten sufferers who navigate life alongside living with a seriously ill brother or sister, this year 45 primary school age siblings and 30 teenagers headed to Derbyshire for an action-packed three days of non-stop fun at our largest sibling retreat to date.

Travelling from London, Manchester and Gateshead the siblings arrived at retreat full of excitement.  Some were returning faces including Sara, age 12, and sister Michal, age 10, but for their brother Akiva, age 9, it was his first time sleeping away from home.

“He was nervous,” admits his mum Jacqui. “But he knows Camp Simcha gives you a good time.  So we had no trouble getting him off, in fact, he didn’t even really say goodbye!  He was really, really excited!”

Their brother Yishai, now 6, was diagnosed in 2023 with Leukaemia.  The last three years have seen the family go through a journey of chemotherapy, hospital stays and uncertainty.  Through it all Sara, Michal and Akiva have had to grow up faster than any child should have to.

Following a second round of chemo, doctors informed the family that Yishai needed a bone marrow transplant – Akiva was a match.  On his 7th birthday the transplant went ahead.

Along with other siblings, their adventure began from the minute they arrived and were welcomed by Camp Simcha staff and dedicated volunteers.  Navigating the Via Ferrata, the children climbed the ladders and used the hand and foot holders to traverse the limestone rock face, and the high ropes and zip wire gave the group the chance to push themselves out their comfort zone and bond with each other.

With feet firmly back on the ground, the creativity kicked in and the children added a splash of colour (and lots of laughter) with clock making and other arts and craft activities.

Mid-retreat, Jacqui received a missed call from Akiva but the excited voicemail he left was everything: “Mummy it’s just amazing.  I’ve done so many cool things.”

As the sun went down, the evening came alive with activities including a DJ and concert.

While the siblings built friendships and shared stories with other children that truly understood, Jacqui and her husband Benjy were able to share some time with Yishai.

“It was really special for us as we don’t really get that much time together just the three of us, apart from when he wasn’t well, so it was really nice for us to give him that extra attention.  It’s his birthday coming up so we managed to take a trip to a toy shop so he could look around.  Something we would never have been able to do without taking everyone along.

“It also gave Benjy and I some quiet time to relax knowing the kids were having an amazing time.”

“Siblings carry so much, often silently,” explained Camp Simcha CEO Daniel Gillis.  “But Sibling retreat, now in its fifth year, exists to put them front and centre where they can simply be children, laughing and finding new friends who ‘get it’. It’s a real privilege to witness and reminds us why Camp Simcha’s work matters.”

Summing up the impact of the retreat for families, Jacqui adds: “When they came back they were all smiles.  I could see they were just recharged.  They looked fresh and looked after.”

Each year more than 850 siblings, primary school age and teenagers, are supported through a dedicated age-appropriate programme that combines therapeutic arts, peer groups, retreats, counselling and Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers, so that a child with a seriously ill brother or sister doesn’t become a ‘forgotten sufferer’.