| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
CAMP SUNDOWN
August 1, 2007
To the Editor,
On July 23rd, the Sheriff’s Office was invited to visit “Camp Sundown” in Craryville, Columbia County, N.Y..
Camp Sundown is the only one of its kind in the United States and is a camp for children with XP, or
Xeroderma Pigmentosum. Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a little known rare genetic disorder that causes
extreme sensitivity to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Unless patients with XP are protected from sunlight, their skin
and eyes may be severely damaged. This damage may and many times does, lead to cancers of the skin
and eyes.
Columbia County residents Dan and Caren Mahar created the camp to give children with XP and their
families from around the world the opportunity to experience a “camp” setting and activities that many of us
take for granted for our own children. Camp Sundown provides indoor activities and projects until the sun
goes down. Then at night, outside sports and other camp activities are held. Since children with XP normally
are not able to attend community days and other events during sunlight hours when police officers usually
interact with young people in positive ways, we traveled to the camp with Deputy Sheriff’s, Correction Officers,
our command vehicle, a K-9 Team, Divers and various Sheriff’s Office displays. We arrived at 9:00PM to the
sound of children laughing and obviously having fun. Once inside we found the source of the laughter,
several brightly dressed clowns, even one clown whose nickname is “Bubba”.
After a brief introduction and discussion about the Office of the Sheriff for those who had never met a Sheriff
or Deputy Sheriffs, I was able to meet and speak with each of the camp attendees and found that many were
from other states and countries. While a K-9 demonstration was conducted, I was given a tour of the camp
building. Even with the windows tinted and covered, I was impressed with the cheerful surroundings which
included an indoor pool and teen lounge. As I watched the children, some of whom show the physical toll that
XP has taken on their bodies, I am again reminded and thankful for the good health of my own children. In
law enforcement we quickly find that the eyes of a person tell the true story …the eyes of the children at
Camp Sundown showed that they were truly happy. While we were there, the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff’
s Benevolent Association donated funds enough for three children to attend next year’s camp.
Anyone interested in finding out more about XP, Camp Sundown or the XP Society, (also located in Craryville,
N.Y. and is the international authority for XP family support and information to assist in the care giving of XP
family members), can visit www.xps.org or call 518-851-2612. The cost of one person and one family
member to attend the camp is $350, however the camp is provided at no cost. The camp depends on
donations, volunteers and monetary contributions each year. I would like to thank the Mahar’s for their hard
work which they describe as a “labor of love” and “their life’s dream”. You see, their daughter has XP as
well. I know I speak for the other members of the Sheriff’s Office as well when I say that it was an honor to be
a small part of the lives of these people and the children of Camp Sundown that evening.
David W. Harrison, Jr.
Sheriff
August 1, 2007
To the Editor,
On July 23rd, the Sheriff’s Office was invited to visit “Camp Sundown” in Craryville, Columbia County, N.Y..
Camp Sundown is the only one of its kind in the United States and is a camp for children with XP, or
Xeroderma Pigmentosum. Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a little known rare genetic disorder that causes
extreme sensitivity to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Unless patients with XP are protected from sunlight, their skin
and eyes may be severely damaged. This damage may and many times does, lead to cancers of the skin
and eyes.
Columbia County residents Dan and Caren Mahar created the camp to give children with XP and their
families from around the world the opportunity to experience a “camp” setting and activities that many of us
take for granted for our own children. Camp Sundown provides indoor activities and projects until the sun
goes down. Then at night, outside sports and other camp activities are held. Since children with XP normally
are not able to attend community days and other events during sunlight hours when police officers usually
interact with young people in positive ways, we traveled to the camp with Deputy Sheriff’s, Correction Officers,
our command vehicle, a K-9 Team, Divers and various Sheriff’s Office displays. We arrived at 9:00PM to the
sound of children laughing and obviously having fun. Once inside we found the source of the laughter,
several brightly dressed clowns, even one clown whose nickname is “Bubba”.
After a brief introduction and discussion about the Office of the Sheriff for those who had never met a Sheriff
or Deputy Sheriffs, I was able to meet and speak with each of the camp attendees and found that many were
from other states and countries. While a K-9 demonstration was conducted, I was given a tour of the camp
building. Even with the windows tinted and covered, I was impressed with the cheerful surroundings which
included an indoor pool and teen lounge. As I watched the children, some of whom show the physical toll that
XP has taken on their bodies, I am again reminded and thankful for the good health of my own children. In
law enforcement we quickly find that the eyes of a person tell the true story …the eyes of the children at
Camp Sundown showed that they were truly happy. While we were there, the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff’
s Benevolent Association donated funds enough for three children to attend next year’s camp.
Anyone interested in finding out more about XP, Camp Sundown or the XP Society, (also located in Craryville,
N.Y. and is the international authority for XP family support and information to assist in the care giving of XP
family members), can visit www.xps.org or call 518-851-2612. The cost of one person and one family
member to attend the camp is $350, however the camp is provided at no cost. The camp depends on
donations, volunteers and monetary contributions each year. I would like to thank the Mahar’s for their hard
work which they describe as a “labor of love” and “their life’s dream”. You see, their daughter has XP as
well. I know I speak for the other members of the Sheriff’s Office as well when I say that it was an honor to be
a small part of the lives of these people and the children of Camp Sundown that evening.
David W. Harrison, Jr.
Sheriff