On Sunday, June 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the Roslyn Branch of AYLUS assisted the Sunrise Association in facilitating the 20th annual SunriseWALKS Long Island at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, located at 75 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights, NY 11798. Sunrise Association is a nonprofit organization offering children with cancer and their families welcoming, inclusive day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all completely free of charge.
For years, the Sunrise Association has organized SunriseWALKS to bring neighboring Long Island communities together in support of Sunrise Day Camp–Long Island, a summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings. More than just a walk, SunriseWALKS is an annual community event filled with music, games, prizes, and more.
Upon arrival, we were assigned to different stations with a variety of responsibilities. Our jobs included cheering on runners and walkers along the trail and at the finish line, as well as assisting children at game stations such as the Boom Blaster balloon pop game, bubble blowing, and bowling games. Our cheerleaders used signs and pom-poms to motivate participants and handed out water as needed. They also greeted everyone at the destination with compliments and encouragement. Game facilitators guided children through each game, for example, encouraging them to pump nonstop until the balloons popped. Afterward, the children were allowed to choose a prize as a reward for their hard work. Toward the end of the event, we cleaned up our stations and put away the supplies.
Despite the hot weather and the large crowd, we managed to stay energetic and focused. The children’s smiles and laughter made all our efforts worthwhile. One surprising moment occurred when a young child insisted on going back in line several times just to experience the bubble-blowing station again. It was a heartwarming reminder of how much joy small activities can bring.
Some challenges included keeping the younger children engaged and maintaining crowd control, but we overcame these by communicating clearly, staying patient, and working as a team. We learned the importance of organization, leadership, and empathy in managing a fast-paced event.
This experience reminded us of the value of service and the power of community. We hope to continue volunteering in future SunriseWALKS and similar events that support children and families in need.
Participants and Hours:
Brian Xiong (4 hours), Eric Xiong (4 hours), Leo Zheng (4 hours), Ethan Lin (11th Grade) (4 hours), Miles Hu (4 hours), Jasmin Lin (3 hours), Zihan Wang (4 hours), Austin Lin (4 hours), Aiden Yuen (4 hours), Kayden Cheng (4 hours), Hunter Chen (3 hours), Sophia Chen (3 hours), Lyann Lin (3 hours), Elizabeth Ouyang (3 hours), Anna Shi (4 hours), Michael Zhang (4 hours), Jolina Wu (4 hours), Yinshuo Gao (4 hours), Remon Cao (4 hours)
Reporter: Leo Zheng