RISING EAGLE SCOUT DELIVERS VIRTUAL REALITY TO CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER

Gavin Campbell’s Eagle Project Offers Sick Children a Virtual Escape

Gavin Campbell is DOING SOMETHING in memory of Ty.

Gavin Campbell, a dedicated scout for ten years after losing his brother Ty to cancer, has recently completed the final phase of his Eagle project. His mission: to bring joy and respite to young patients in hospitals where his brother was once treated, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP/WCMC), by providing them with virtual reality sets.

Reflecting on what inspired his project, Gavin shared, “My brother spent more than 260 nights in the hospital throughout the two years he was treated for a brain tumor, and I can only imagine how tough and lonely that must have been. My Eagle project offers kids in hospitals the chance to virtually escape their hospital room and visit cool locations, or to participate in games that can double as a way to create movement and rehabilitate muscles after so much time in bed,” said Gavin.

An Eagle project is an extensive service endeavor undertaken by the members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to achieve the highest rank of Eagle Scout. It requires the acquisition of 21 merit badges, the demonstration of leadership, and a significant amount of time and energy applied to plan, organize, lead, and manage the project. Only six percent of all BSA members achieve the honor of earning Eagle rank.

Gavin’s project was meticulously planned and executed, involving:

• Outreach to Hospitals: Gavin reached out to children’s hospitals to secure approvals for his initiative. He then tailored each VR kit based on feedback from professionals, including child life specialists and physical therapists.
• Fundraising: He collaborated with fellow scouts and solicited corporate donations to cover the costs of the equipment.
• Leadership: He led a team of scouts to determine the most suitable experiences and games for the young recipients.
• Execution: Gavin coordinated events where the team securely set up the equipment, uploaded games, and provided instruction manuals to recipients.

On July 11, 2024, Gavin wrapped up his project by personally delivering the popular META virtual reality sets to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His brother received treatment at both prestigious institutions before he succumbed to his disease in 2012. Gavin’s campaign was so impactful, his fundraising success also afforded him the means to purchase additional sets that he had already delivered to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in June.

Now fifteen, Gavin was just 3 ½ years old when his brother passed away. Seeking solace after the devastating loss, his family introduced him to the Boy Scouts of America, where he found great reward in the achievements demanded of him as he moved up the ranks.

“Reaching Eagle Scout is a difficult achievement that requires dedication and hard work that is not typical of many boys his age,” said Louis Campbell, Gavin’s dad. “Over the years, he never lost sight of how much the loss of his big brother impacted our family, and to see him develop an Eagle project dedicated to Ty’s memory fills us all with immense pride.”

Gavin’s accomplishment comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with the Campbell family. The Campbells are well-known for their dedication to volunteerism and philanthropy, having founded the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation in 2012, a nonprofit organization that funds childhood cancer research in the hopes of changing outcomes for children like Ty in the future. Over the past twelve years, the TLC Foundation has invested more than $2 million to fund 18 research projects across the country, including projects at all three beneficiaries of Gavin’s Eagle Project, MSKCC, NYP/WCMC, and CHOP.