ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There’s a reason kids stopped at Engine 16 for pizza and donuts Thursday morning. They’re going to summer camp, and some firefighters are going with them. Each kid has a story of overcoming a traumatic burn injury.

“Unfortunately we had to take about three years off during the pandemic, which was difficult, we really did lose touch with each other a little bit,” Paul Schwartzman, executive director of the Finger Lakes Regional Burn Association, said.

Schwartzman says the kids found community and healing through camp. Some campers, like Dayveion Allen, met the firefighters who saved their lives.

“Weird emotional shock. I didn’t know what happened afterward. But then to see you guys here, grown, grown-up because when I saw them they were young, it was uh overwhelming,” said David Abdoch, a captain with the Rochester Fire Department.

“Honestly I can’t thank them enough for what they do,” Dayveion said.

Dayveion has spent the majority of his life with scars. But for him, that’s not his whole story. It’s more about overcoming challenges and making life-long friends.

“Being a kid it was kind of tough, I was self-conscious about how I looked. A lot of people would constantly ask what happened to you? Why do you look like that? Are you okay? But after a lot of time answering the question, it just became second nature. I’m used to it,” Dayveion said.

The camp may be small, but it means the world to these kids.

“We live on grants and donations,” Schwartzman said.

“A burn injury doesn’t define you and you do go on to live a full, loving life,” Schwartzman said.

The camp has been working its magic for 30 years.

Paul Schwartzman with Finger Lakes Burn Association said the non-profit is donor-funded. If you want to help, you can click on this link.

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