On Friday, 35 firetrucks gathered in the parking lot at Triangle Center Mall in Raleigh, NC and waited as kids from across North Carolina rolled up and registered to participate in Camp Celebrate, a special camp just for pediatric burn victims in North Carolina.

The University of North Carolina Burn Center and others have been offering Camp Celebrate since 1982. But the experience and companionship does not end after one visit. As the kids grow older and become teenagers they have the opportunity to return as camp counselors and be mentors to younger kids.

As I stood in the parking lot at the mall I watched kids walking up with parents dragging suitcases and kids carrying their favorite pillow. They looked every bit as excited to be headed to Camp Celebrate as many other kids are this summer.

Camp Celebrate is held at the very special Wake Forest, NC Camp Kanata and the friends, family members, and staff of Camp Kanata were clapping and cheering as each fire truck pulled up to drop off the special pairs of kids they drove to camp. The campers got to operate the siren and lights along the way.

The convoy of 35 fire trucks was a sight to see as it ambled up Capital Boulevard on the way to Camp Kanata Road. Firetrucks from Wake Forest Fire Department, Bay Leaf Fire Department, and Stony Hill Fire Department were part of the participating departments.