An 8-year-old boy is making a birthday sacrifice.
Instead of gifts he’s asking you to donate to the children attending the Oklahoma Firefighter’s Burn Camp. It’s being held August 8-12th at Dry Gulch USA just east of Pryor. So far, he’s collected hundreds of items but they still need more.
A birthday is typically celebrated with a cake, candles and a variety of birthday gifts. But for Dustin Andrews, he wanted to celebrate his life by giving to others.
“It was on the news that two girls donated blankets and I wanted to do it, so I donated to the burn camp instead,” says Andrews.
It’s a selfless act that isn’t going unnoticed.
"I wanted to make the kids feel good,” he says.
“It's pretty amazing that an 8-year-old would have the capacity to want to sacrifice his birthday and all his birthday presents to have things given to the kids at burn camp,” says Sand Springs firefighter, Barry Molencupp.
Burn camp is in its 14th year and children all across the state who are burn survivors or who have been disfigured are allowed to attend.
“They have waterparks, go-karts, horseback riding, and we have wake-board boats that come in and we have bass-masters that come in and take all the kids fishing. It's just nothing but playing for five days,” says Molencupp.
Dustin knows what a small burn feels like.
"I picked up a stick that rolled out of the fire. I picked up one and it was real hot,” he says.
But he knows the pain these kids have gone through can be overwhelming.
"We all know a lot of adults who don't have the capacity to make a sacrifice like that. At 8 years old, that's pretty amazing,” says Molencupp.
Another way you can help out the children at this year’s burn camp is by getting involved with this year’s Tatur Mud Run.
It’s being held Saturday, July 28th. For more information just go to
www.tatur.org to register. Proceeds benefit the burn camp. You can also drop off camp donations at the Sand Springs Fire department.
