durhamregion.com 4 The Citizen March 21, 2014 Looking forward to warmer days in Brooklin "Trip Day Wednesdays" at the Optimist Summer Day Camp was the answer when I recently asked my son about his favourite summer memories growing up in Brooklin. Each summer we would take him to the camp at Brooklin Memorial Park. As parents we were thrilled because he was having fun, plus it was affordable and right here in town. The camp, which runs in the park each year, is all about having fun with a focus on outdoor activities for campers aged six to 12. There are nine weekly sessions that start July 2 and run through Aug. 29. The day's activities run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The camp staff plans a variety of activities ranging from soft sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, Frisbee and tennis to games like cards, board games, relays and races. Creativity is explored through play acting, singing and a wide variety of crafts. This summer's Wednesday trips include the Ontario Science Centre, Heydenshore Park and Waterfront Exploration, Cedar Park Swimming, Carnival Day, Cobourg Beach, Peterborough Zoo and Lang Pioneer Village in Keene, In addition to the trips, Brooklin Memorial Park itself has a lot to offer as an outdoor camp setting with nature walks and hikes near the local creek. While winter seems to be holding on, summer is right around the corner and the Optimist Summer Day Camp fills up quickly. There may still be spots available and you can contact Mary Wick at 905-924-1966 or e-mail mary.wick@hotmail.com for more information. Rob Hanson is the president of The Optimist Club of Brooklin, a group of local volunteers that provide activities for youth in the community. RoB Hanson Youth Strangers connect through Brooklin-based Facebook group A local woman's post on social media site goes a long way Parvaneh Pessian ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- If Melanie Green is looking for a quick answer to a parenting question, she can rely on friends she's met through the Facebook group Brooklin Moms. Sitting at more than 1,300 members currently, the group welcomes members to engage in discussion on various topics, including "mom-related help." Recently, the Brooklin resident found a new use for the handy social media tool when she helped a fellow member, Tracey Vonsick, find information she was desperately seeking. "One of the moms in the group had stated that she had been recently diagnosed with a rare brain condition called chiari malformation and she was overwhelmed because there's very little information out there about it," said Ms. Green. Chiari malformation is a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, resulting in a variety of symptoms, including severe headaches and neck pain, difficulty swallowing, dizziness and muscle weakness. The name of the disorder immediately rang a bell with Ms. Green when she saw Ms. Vonsick's question because her friend, Janet Hussey of Whitby, recently launched the first non-profit organization in the province for chiari malformation. Ms. Green contacted Ms. Vonsick and put her in touch with Ms. Hussey, who also has chiari, and they've kept in touch since. "Janet phoned me and she talked to me for a good hour and put me in touch with her support group that she has online," said Ms. Vonsick, who also lives in Whitby. After years of struggling with debilitating symptoms compounded by numerous misdiagnoses, Ms. Vonsick said she was relieved to have the diagnosis and grateful to know she wasn't alone. "Having illnesses that people can't see or understand is very difficult, even family members, because they can't see that you're in pain every day." Ms. Hussey strives to spread awareness about chiari malformation through her Facebook page, "Chiari Without Borders." She encourages anyone who is living with the condition and looking for support to join the group or contact her via e-mail at jhussey@rogers.com "Awareness is getting out there through social media and it's been wonderful because people that don't even have chiari know about me," she said. VIsIT: www.chiariassociation.org Tim Whittaker - Publisher Joanne Burghardt - Editor-in-Chief Mike Johnston - Managing Editor Fred Eismont - Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak - Classified Advertising Manager Abe Fakhourie - Distribution Manager Lillian Hook - Office Manager Cheryl Haines - Composing Manager PH 905-579-4400 CLASSIFIEDS 905-576-9335 GENERAL FAX 905-576-9335 NEWS FAX 905-579-1809 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Member: Ontario Press Council, OCNA, CCNA, SNA. All content copyright A Metroland Media Group Ltd. Publication WHITBY -- Tracey Vonsick of Whitby, with husband, Steve, top photo, connected with Janet Hussey, a Whitby woman who is raising awareness about chiari malformation, through a Facebook group called Brooklin Moms. Ms. Vonsick was looking for more information about chiari malformation after recently being diagnosed with the rare brain condition. Members of the Whitby Dynamite hockey team, bottom photo, wore purple laces during their game on Feb. 15 to raise awareness about chiari malformation. A team member's grandmother suffers from the condition. Jason Liebregts / MetroLand