September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

For 30 years now, the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation has offered more than 40 programs and services at no cost for critically ill children and their families, as well as adults diagnosed with cancer.

One of those life changing programs is Camp Cartwheel.

Nevada Week reporter Maria Silva takes us to this magical place.

Nestled in Lovell Canyon, just about 45 miles west of Las Vegas, you will find the breathtaking Torino Ranch, a healing oasis Hey, I made it.

And the world's great.

Is for children and teens like 14 year old Abigail Cueto.

I had leukemia, which is the type of cancer that's in, like, your, um, within your blood I was six years old when I got diagnosed, and I would go like through out like a whole bunch of treatments, like I used to, like, get poked all the time and I hated it.

And Kim, I just turned into, like, a place where I could just forget about my illness and just be a regular kid again.

there to make sure these wonderful kids have an out of this world experience.

This year's Camp theme, by the way, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation president and CEO Jeff Gordon.

Camp Cartwheel is just so special because it it's a place of safety, a place of solace, a place where our children get to get away from from all the doctors, the nurses, the medicines and everything.

Even though we have our med shed here and everything's here, all their prescriptions and everything.

There are doctors and nurses kind of behind the scenes and the kids get to be kids.

And we love that.

Another reason to love Camp Cartwheel.

It's been around for 29 years, making it the longest running and largest camp in Nevada.

the kind and caring staff and volunteers also make sure these amazing kids and their families get the help they need year round.

camp is our brightest star is where we're here.

And the kids every day, you know, and this is wonderful.

But there's another 360 days of the year that we're working with these families.

We pay a lot of rent, we pay a lot of utilities.

We you know, they have counseling at our offices.

We have the veterinary education program.

So they're not missing schools It was the chance meeting between Jeff and the equally kind hearted Brett to Reno.

More than two decades ago, that led to Camp Cartwheel finding its home at the beautiful Torino ranch.

he's talking to the TV and I'm behind him.

I next stop.

Yeah.

He said, you know, we're really looking for a home.

Oh, and I just serendipitous.

You were meant to be there at the same time.

Oh, the minute Jeff was doing this interview, I said, We need to talk.

this place is magic.

So tell me, when these kids come.

I like I have a big smile on my face because I just I've been here several times.

And to see these kids again, just be kids and forget, that's what we're excited.

We want to make sure we don't miss that.

When these passes show and you see these kids getting off the bus and then all of a sudden magic happens.

how many places can kids go to in the summer with disabilities and be outdoors in Vegas?

Yeah, nonexistent.

So when they come here, they've got water, they've got grass, they've got beaches, they've got train rides, they've got a climbing wall.

We've got a pool for they they've real young kids, you know, diving program, you know, aquatics program.

You don't hear these things.

We have an entertainment theater.

We have greenhouses where we grow food.

You know, we just have yeah, everything a kid would hope for.

Speaking of hope, Abigail hopes to become a Broadway star and her future sure looks bright.

I've been in remission for a couple of years now, and I don't to see the doctor as often.

And basically, in a way, it's like I'm cured.

now that little bit of hope when the backs against the roads can be lit and the world's greatest.

And she is the world's greatest.

Thank you.