Who We Are

One Heart

Camp LUCK strives to improve the lives of kids and families coping with heart disease by empowering them to live life to the fullest. We offer opportunities where heart kids can reach their potential and build self-esteem, friendships and character by participating in activities that are focused on nurturing the development of Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids.

One Purpose

Camp LUCK provides programming to support the entire family throughout the year. These outreach initiatives are designed to educate, empower and comfort those dealing with heart disease.

One Community

It’s more than a camp… It’s an attitude, and changing attitudes changes lives

Mission

The mission of Camp LUCK is to encourage, comfort and empower those affected by congenital heart disease and to provide a healthy, worry-free (medically supervised) camp environment focused on nurturing the development of Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids.

* Camp LUCK does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

Guiding Principles

To offer support for families and to provide a healthy worry-free (medically supervised) camp environment where children and their families have opportunities to reach their potential by building self-esteem, friendships and character through participating in activities that are focused on nurturing the development of Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids.

More Than A Camp

Camp LUCK provides services for families that have children with heart disease. These outreach programs are held in the Charlotte area and include both inpatient and outpatient options. Whether you have just begun your journey or have been traveling this road, there is something for everyone.

History

Camp LUCK, Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids, began when the passions of four people merged. Jay “Bird” Thompson and René Herlong had a vision of creating a summer camp for children with significant heart disease. They pitched this idea to a meeting of the family support group, Levine Cardiac Kids. At that meeting, they learned that they had two very enthusiastic partners in Kim Jackson and her son, Jacob. Jacob had been to a similar camp in California, and he and his mother were eager to provide local kids with a similar opportunity. This melding of passions was the spark that ignited others to join in on the effort, and Camp LUCK was born.

Family Camp was an introduction to the idea of a future Kids Camp for the families in Levine Cardiac Kids, and it was a resounding success. After our first Family Camp, we formed a Board of Directors and began the hard work of creating a Kids Camp. Several months after our first Family Camp, Jacob Jackson died after his last of many surgeries for his heart defect. The Camp LUCK community was devastated, but we all knew how much Jacob wanted to have a Kids Camp for his friends with heart problems. Jacob’s death turned that spark into a bonfire! All of us were re-energized to create this camp as Jacob’s legacy.

We have had our annual family camp since 2010. Our inaugural Kids Camp was held in 2012 and continues to grow each year. Jacob has been with us every step of the way. His initials are on our logo, and his memory is forever in our hearts. We believe that there is no finer legacy than Camp LUCK. We have brought joy to many kids and their families, and we’ve only just begun! Come join in on the fun!