It's normal to have one or two causes close to your heart, and to help them. One of our donor's story.

For nearly 9 years, every month, Cocan Cristina has chosen to donate to the children of Yuppi Camp. On the occasion of Yuppi's 15th anniversary, we wanted to show you this part of the community too — the less visible part, but just as important.

Cristina found out about Yuppi in 2017, from a colleague involved in our projects. "I don't like suffering, I don't understand why it has to exist. I'm an empathetic person, and I've never been insensitive to what's around me. When my colleague told me about Yuppi Camp, I felt like contributing, however I could. I also have two children, and that made me even more sensitive to the stories from Yuppi. Plus, it's normal to have one or two causes close to your heart, and to help them," she tells us.

Her motivation was the purpose and goals of Yuppi Camp. "You can't actually heal, but at least with the little you can, you can help. I imagine how much the Yuppi Camp experience means to the children. Maybe it's a break from routine, a day when they do something different, when they see joy on others' faces and also feel that they too can get through their own trial. They feel that they're not alone, that they are loved, appreciated," Cristina confesses.

Over the years, she has stayed close and has enjoyed hearing news from us. "I saw that it's something that works. It's an organization and a form of volunteering that really has a purpose and a mission, and really helps and brings light into people's lives. I feel good knowing that I contributed to that too."

For a while now, she's also been toying with the idea of coming to volunteer at the camps. "I'd like to get more involved. It would be a kind of emotional maturing for me if I could come as a volunteer. But I don't know if I'm strong enough. It's hard for me to see children around my own kids' age going through the hardships of illness. It would sadden me greatly to be present physically and emotionally, but I might try it at some point," Cristina admits.

For Yuppi Camp's future, Cristina hopes for growth, for more supporters, for projects that continue and develop further. "I want to keep being able to contribute too!"

Cristina, thank you for the 9 years in which, month after month, you've stood by us! Thank you for your generosity! We hope to see you, whenever you're ready, at the camps!