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Buckingham Palace and Big Ben are boon for sick kids

Zichron Menachem’s annual summer camp for children with cancer brings them to London for a much-needed respite

By Jessica Steinberg

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3 August 2016, 9:22 pm

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Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Enjoying London in July 2016 with cancer-assistance organization Zichron Menachem, which assists kids with cancer and their families (Courtesy Zichron Menachem)

For one week, 150 Israeli kids sick with cancer get to think about Queen Elizabeth, London shows and trips to amusement parks rather than treatments.

The kids, ages six to late teens, and of Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious and secular backgrounds, are this week spending part of their summer vacation in London.

The trip is courtesy of Zichron Menachem, founded by Chaim and Miri Ehrental 25 years ago after their oldest child, Menachem, died of leukemia at age 15.

The organization has helped 3,500 families over the years, organizing free day camps for sick kids and their sibling and a center that offers activities, counseling and related services to anyone suffering from cancer, regardless of ethnic background or religious beliefs.

Taking in the sights on the Zichron Menachem London 2016 camp (Courtesy Zichron Menachem)

The summer trip to London brought along a staff of close to 100 and 2.5 tons of medical equipment, so that the participants could fully enjoy the trip.

There was also a mobile hospital and lab for handling the daily medical treatments needed for the participants.

The participants’ siblings attended a Zichron Menachem-sponsored day camp in Israel during the London trip, which gave their parents a break as well.

“Our campers tell us time and again how their time in London had a meaningful impact on their recovery,” said Eli Seliger, the Zichron Menachem director.

“At the last camp we ran, one of our girls spent the day at an amusement park while still hooked up to her IV, and it’s not unusual to find our kids dancing in wheelchairs at our nightly parties,” he said. “The camps Zichron Menachem runs, both in the UK and in Israel, enable kids to let go of their troubles even while undergoing treatment.”