Bonita and Marlon Atlow became volunteers of Camp Sunshine, a nonprofit organization located in Decatur that provides programs for children with cancer, through the suggestion of co-workers.

“A co-worker at our job introduced us to Camp Sunshine,” said DeKalb resident Marlon. “He told us about the wonderful activities they do for kids of all ages. The program sounded nice and like something we wanted to get involved with.”

His wife, Bonita, agreed.

“It has been a great opportunity to learn more about cancer,” she said. “I also thought that it would help in raising our own kids.”

After discussing the matter on a car ride from work one evening, the pair took the necessary steps to become official volunteers, including completing paperwork and going through an interview process.

That was 15 years ago.

Since then, the couple have participated in dozens of summer camp weeks as camp counselors and assisted with lock-ins and arts and crafts as well as chaperoning for the winter dance.

The organization’s summer camps, which are held at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Ga., are its largest, but not only programs.

In 2010 alone, the nonprofit provided more than 140 programs for childhood cancer patients such as weekend camps, retreats, educational workshops and support programs, at no charge to patients or their families.

For Marlon, the majority of his efforts have been concentrated on the teen summer camp each year, usually held from the middle to the end of June.

“I’ve always been with the 13- and 14-year old boys,” said Marlon. “The very first year you are assigned wherever they need you. That very first year, I recognized the bond that some of the other counselors that had been there with the older kids had.”

Bonita has assisted in whatever capacity she was needed.

“I’ve had the opportunity to be a floater,” she said as she laughed.” I did arts and crafts for several years and then decided to become a counselor.”

When asked if either had a memorable moment from almost two decades of volunteering, both instead recognized the great enrichment their time at Camp Sunshine had added to their lives.

“It makes me see a little piece of heaven here on Earth,” said Bonita. “Each opportunity I have to work with these kids, I feel really blessed. They help me keep things in perspective when I get confused or overwhelmed with my everyday life.”

Marlon said that his volunteer efforts have provided him with a sense of humility.

“Camp Sunshine keeps me grounded,” he said. “It has taught me that there is much more to life than the things we worry about on a regular basis. When you see kids at the age of 13 that have gone through 50 or 60 surgeries and they still have a lust for life, it touches you to the core.”

Camp Sunshine headquarters is located at 1850 Clairmont Road.

Information: (404) 325-7979 or www.mycampsunshine.com.