A Perfect Example of Getting Involved: Joseph Beal
Joseph Beal began volunteering with HoG in 2017, shortly after his son was diagnosed with hemophilia. Having never heard of the disorder, Beal initially began volunteering so he could learn more about his son’s condition. Three years later, Joseph is now serving his second term on the Junior Board and has been a counselor at HoG’s camps since 2018.
“[Being on the Junior Board] is teaching me a lot,” Beal says. “Leadership, having a voice, being open-minded about things – not being so afraid to just ask for help. There’s help everywhere; I was just always afraid to ask.”
Beal’s son is too young to attend camp, but he has enjoyed attending Family Camp. Although a brain bleed at 6 months left him slightly behind developmentally, four-year-old Joseph Jr. always enjoys dancing with the other kids, according to his dad. Beal says he can already tell his three-year-old daughter is shaping up to be a great volunteer. “She enjoys family camp every time she goes. I can see her as a future camp counselor for sure,” he notes.
A veteran counselor himself, Beal describes the immediate connection he felt with the kids and the other volunteers at Camp Wannaklot the first day he arrived. “It was like friends, at first sight, just a connection ... I’ve been volunteering there ever since.”
He also described some of the more inspiring moments he’s experienced as a counselor. For example, watching one of his young campers self-infuse for the first time. “That takes a lot of confidence,” says Beal. “I know a lot of people in the hospital who can’t even get needles stuck in them. So, for him to be 13 years old and have that level of confidence was very impressive.”
In addition to his many other volunteer duties, Beal has been hard at work the past few months fundraising for Camp Wannaklot during our annual Trot to Clot campaign. Although we have recently had to transition the event to a virtual 5k because of COVID-19 concerns, Beal is still out there actively fundraising for the Junior Board’s team, the Wannatrotters.
When asked what inspired him to fundraise for Camp Wannaklot during this year’s Trot to Clot, Beal said it’s the community he’s found here. “My son is what really inspired me, but it’s the people that I’ve met that keep me going ... the joy they have [while living] with such a serious disorder is just impressive.”
When he’s talking to his community about donating, Beal says he simply shares his experiences. “I just ask for [people’s] support because it really would mean a lot. More and more kids who have bleeding disorders can experience that time at camp. I tell them the truth, you know. I have been there. It’s a big impact on kids’ lives. It’s the best 5 days out of the year. There are 365 days in the year, and they’re waiting on those 5 days.”
You can support Joseph’s Trot to Clot fundraising efforts by visiting his donation page here.