Finding Joy and Peace at Sunrise: Amy Fields from Sunrise Day Camp-Chicago

Twice a week in the yurt that Sunrise Day Camp-Chicago calls the “Zen Den,” Amy Fields, a Sunrise donor and yoga instructor, lays out a circle of yoga mats. Kids of all ages file in, find a spot, and calm their bodies and minds with Fields’ expert guidance.

Fields’ yoga journey began in 2020 as a way to pass the time during the pandemic. As she delved deeper into her practice, she realized she could combine her new skills with her long-held passion: helping children with cancer and their families.

This drive to help pediatric oncology patients was ignited nearly 20 years ago when her goddaughter was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a common kidney cancer in children. After witnessing the effects of chemotherapy firsthand, Fields dedicated her time to raising funds for clinical trials and finding new ways to help children cope with their experiences. “That’s also why I decided to do yoga [at Sunrise],” Fields explained. “I feel like I could help them with what they’re going through and give them some internal peace.”

Fields yoga instruction focuses on reconnecting campers with their bodies in ways which might have been impacted during their treatment. Whether they’re grappling with new and confusing emotions or experiencing physical pain from treatment, Fields offers tools and techniques to support the campers.

“I want to be able to give them some tools to help them work through their body, so it doesn’t stay in their bodies—whatever they’re feeling,” Fields said. “Hopefully, it can extend to their families, maybe by going home and saying, ‘We learned this in yoga, and this is the breathing or this is the tapping. Here are the things that I learned for my body, my breathing, and my peace.’”

After hearing about Sunrise through the Hecktman family, another group of dedicated camp donors, Fields visited the camp to experience a day in action. She immediately recognized the value of Sunrise in the lives of the children and families involved and decided that camp was the perfect place for her to make a direct impact. This experience inspired her to continue her work with year-round in-hospital volunteering at Sunrise on Wheels, as well as to donate an incredible 18-hole mini golf course to the campground through the Bettie and Earl Fields Automotive Foundation.

“I felt like this is where I need to be. I am so grateful that there is an opportunity like Sunrise for these children. It warms my heart,” Fields said.

But her favorite part of camp? Knowing that while the kids are playing in a healthy and fun environment, parents can take a moment to just breathe.