It's Saturday, July 25th, 2026 User not logged in Running Group Group Name: Hoosier Burn Campers Manager: Rich Limacher Subject: It really is a special charity Member: Rich Limacher In describing this new "group" on RunRace, I've tried to capture the essence of what the Hoosier Burn Camp must be all about. I'm happy today to be very good friends with an adult woman runner (a darn good one!) who was burned horribly as a child from an accidental outdoor barbecue explosion. She's told me how, over the years, she's had multiple skin grafts, etc., and I don't know what-all therapies and counselings, etc., but I'm now quite happy to report just how well she's come through it all. I don't know if she herself ever experienced anything like a Burn Camp, but I do think she would've enjoyed it. Children are especially vulnerable to "being laughed at" because they're "different." Personally, I never experienced any of *that* but can say that I once watched something very positive with burn victim adults. My friend and I happened to be at a race where another adult burn victim was about to run, too. He came over and--without saying anything else--just looked straight at her and asked, "How'd it happen?" They bonded instantly and, of course, she then explained "it" yet again, as I'm sure she's been "explaining" all her life. None of the rest of us adults would ever have the "nerve" to walk up to her face and ask such a thing. We're all too embarrassed. And THAT, I'm afraid, only comes AFTER having been stupid as kids and "laughed at" such tragedy. What I felt was, it's an honor to witness two burn victims bond so well, so quickly, and without any use for a lifetime's worth of guilt feelings. Hey, they just accepted it. They wore their facial "features" as casually as the rest of us wear clothes. I'm just guessing, but I *think* that's what groups like the Hoosier Burn Camp try to teach burned kids: Hey, just accept it. And then they can grow up to be great runners just like my friend is! Message Posted: August 30th, 2013 6:23 pm Last Update: August 30th, 2013 6:24 pm Viewed: 649 Last View: July 19th, 2026 9:28 am Group Created: August 30th, 2013 3:36 pm Last Update: August 30th, 2013 5:36 pm Members: 2 Viewed: 18991 Last View: July 25th, 2026 6:11 pm 2004-2026 : All rights reserved Terms and Conditions