July 19 was national Camp Kindness Day. At Sunrise Day Camp–Pearl River, camper Perla Flores, 15, came up with the inspiring idea to hand out positive notes to campers and counselors throughout the day. A few other campers from Perla’s Explorers group helped distribute the cards, which Perla named “Rays of Sunshine.” 

Perla’s experience of seeing what her younger brother—camper Juniel, 8—endured throughout his cancer battle helped her develop her need to show kindness to others. Juniel was diagnosed with an eye tumor when he was 3 months old. After several radiation treatments, doctors were finally able to get rid of the tumor for good. Juniel, who can barely see out of one eye and is fully blind in the other, is now going on 4 years of being clear after the radiation. Perla has been at his side and a major support to her family throughout it all, and Juniel is able to “navigate through any obstacle as if he had 20/20 vision,” said mom Dahiana Ruiz.  

“Perla continued to support and help and even when she didn’t have to go to appointments or stay for treatments. She stayed to support me and keep me company, which would make sitting through treatments and so many things so much easier,” said Dahiana. “She has such a warm and caring heart and that spreads to her wanting to show kindness. She wants to make others as happy as she tries to make her brother. She loves being a light of positivity in the darkness and I think that was started by the darkness of her brother’s diagnosis.” 

Perla was asked at camp about why she came up with her Rays of Sunshine idea. “I wanted to put a smile on someone’s face,” Perla explained. “I wanted to make whoever received a card feel special and shine a light into their day. One act of kindness can brighten up anyone’s day and you never know what someone is going through.” 

Perla’s mother doesn’t know how Perla was able to be “so positive, strong, and patient” throughout Juniel’s battle and is “so proud and grateful.” Sunrise is very proud of and grateful for Perla too.