Broward Sheriff's Office firefighter Mike Clougherty can't wait to go to summer camp.
Clougherty, a counselor at the Muscular Dystrophy Association camp in Brandon, has become best friends with his camper from last year, Joshua Sakowitz, 9, of Pembroke Pines.
"At the camp everybody is the same. It's a level playing field for kids who meet, live and play with those of their own ability for the first time in their lives, and it's a special experience," said Clougherty, 44.
Muscular Dystrophy has been the national charity of the International Association of Firefighters for 50 years. Their annual Fill-the-Boot campaign has raised more than $20 million over the years for the charity. Last year, Broward Sheriff's Office firefighters raised more than $7,000 of the more than $80,000 raised by all firefighters in Broward.
Clougherty, a 26-year veteran of the department, has been intensely involved with fund-raising for Muscular Dystrophy for five years and has been a camp volunteer for three.
The camp, which is near Tampa and limited to 50 participants ages 6 to 21, will be July 18-23 this year. More than 100 volunteers, ages 16 and older, work one-on-one with campers, providing the round-the-clock care, supervision and attention that children with neuromuscular diseases need. Counselors push wheelchairs, lift and carry youngsters and, like Clougherty, bunk down near their campers.
"It's not all easy work, but it's satisfying," Clougherty said. "Some of the campers are pretty big and it takes two people to move them."
Clougherty, a lieutenant at Station 21 in Pompano Beach Highlands, gives up a week of his vacation to be at the camp. This year he has been on a personal campaign to persuade more of his fellow firefighters to volunteer.
"I have been collecting in the boot campaign, but once you work with the families and go to the camp and participate, it really changes everything," said Clougherty, who lives in Jupiter. "It's hard for me to describe how I feel about the camp. The joy I get out of working with these kids is the best thing I've ever experienced. It's very rewarding to have kids that are so sick tell you that the week has been the best of their whole lives."
For his part, Josh Sakowitz treasures the close relationship he has had with Clougherty, who has kept in close touch with the Sakowitz family throughout the year.
"The camp has helped Josh in every aspect of his life," said his father, Herman Sakowitz, 42. "Josh has matured. His being on his own, away from us for a few days, has made him a little more independent. It has been a great environment for him."
"I can't say enough about Mike. He has a heart as big as the Grand Canyon."
The camp is now accepting applications for campers and volunteers.
