More than 4,000 people enjoyed an open day at Barretstown Castle to celebrate 30 years of the charity in Ireland.
Barretstown cares for children with serious illnesses and their families.
Barretstown CEO Dee Ahearn told RTÉ News the charity had welcomed more than 120,000 campers to its facility at Barretstown Castle since it opened 30 years ago.
She said it was about allowing seriously ill children and their families to regain part of their childhood.
“When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, they are thrown into a world of hospitals, doctors and often harrowing treatments,” she said.
“They're really growing up too fast and losing a lot of their childhood, and that's where Barretstown comes in,” she added.
According to Ms. Ahearn, the association's programs “are designed to rebuild their independence, confidence and self-esteem.”
Orla Wallace has a long association with Barretstown.
Ms Wallace's son, Ben, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2011, when he was 12.
He died in 2015, but his family's connection to the charity continues.
Mrs Wallace continues to fundraise and Ben's sister Ava is now a member of the Barretstown Youth Council.
She said Barretstown is following Ben's example by giving back to the place that has done so much for them.
“Ben used to say that Barretstown gave me back a part of myself, I don’t know how they do it,” she said.
Ms Wallace said when a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, all their parents want is for them to have a normal life.
“Having fun, having an adventure, having a lot of joy and that’s what you get here in Barretstown, that’s what they get and that’s what the whole family gets,” she said.
Ahearn said Barretstown will host more than 22,000 campers this year and there is a waiting list for its programs.
The charity must raise funds to provide these services.
It receives about 4% of its funding from the state and spent 9 million euros last year.
Ms Wallace said it was very important that Barretstown could continue to do this.
She said that “four children are diagnosed with cancer every week in this country, not to mention all the other serious illnesses that Barretstown deals with” and that because the camp has medical support, families can bring their children knowing they will be cared for and safe there.
