A big thanks to all our supporters!
About Camp UKANDU
My Story
Why We Started Our Car Show
Our Mission
In 1993 I was diagnosed with childhood leukemia and was given a 10% chance of living without a Bone Marrow Transplant. It was at the end of 6th grade and I was just told I have leukemia. I was getting poked and prodded by nurses and doctors, not knowing what was going on, what was going happen, I was encouraged to go to Camp UKANDU. Being so newly diagnosed, I did not want to go but they told me that I could bring one of my siblings and that my doctor and nurses would also be there. Unfortunately I could only go for a couple days before I had to go back to the hospital, but those couple days were so much fun! I had never been to summer camp before then but this seemed different. Kids had puffy faces, some had hair, some had no hair, some were in wheelchairs, others were missing an arm or leg but all seemed happy, because that's how Camp UKANDU is. It is where you encouraged to be a kid. I had so much fun while I was there. My favorite was going to the marina and doing arts & crafts. Campfires were always entertaining and skits at mealtimes. I do this car show because I had so much fun there and it needs to keep going until it is no longer needed.
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Our Mission
Why We Started Our Car Show
Our Mission
The mission of UKANDU is to bring joy, hope, and connection to communities impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer.
UKANDU is a volunteer-driven organization. More than 100 adults give of their time and talents every summer to create a week of outrageous fun for the children and families of UKANDU.
Planning for Camp UKANDU began in 1985 when a small group of Candlelighters parents decided, despite their children’s illness, they wanted them to be able to go to camp like every other kid. Thanks to an initial grant by the Fred Meyer Charitable Trust, 48 campers brought to life the first Camp UKANDU on August 10, 1986 at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp. In 1988, many of UKANDU’s special traditions began, including the dance, sleeping in teepees, and Memory Circle – where we honor those campers who have passed. That year, the all-volunteer staff took 90 campers from Mt. Hood to Camp Yamhill, and then in 1989, the UKANDU volunteer board of directors began a long-standing relationship with the American Cancer Society. Just one year later, in 1990, the number of campers attending Camp UKANDU increased to 132.
Why We Started Our Car Show
Why We Started Our Car Show
Why We Started Our Car Show
Several years ago at a check up I found out that Camp UKANDU had lost its national funding due to cut backs and became a non profit, now relying on donations to keep it going. My doctor was one of the rotating doctors at camp and when she let me know and I knew I had to do something to help keep it going. I thought...Everybody likes a car show; why not put together a fundraiser. We started our show with 11 cars and have grown to over 65 cars and trucks. It is my family and our friends that help put it together, gather donations and help make it the best car show in Portland. In 2018 we decided since it was our 6th year, we were going to take a break and find a bigger venue and incorporate some new ideas. Then COVID hit and now we are ready to have our show again and raise money for Camp UKANDU! Join us on July 9, 2022 at Parkrose High School for our Car show to benefit Camp UKANDU.