Beloved Bubbles gives her heart through acts of glitter

RUTLEDGE, Ga. – When we arrived at Camp Sunshine, they kept telling us, “You can’t miss her.” “Oh, you’ll find her no problem.” They were right.

When we enter the cabin packed with kids and volunteers, shes’s the first person you see. Her cape is tie dyed. Her spiked salt and pepper hair peaks out beneath a bright yellow polka dot bandana. Her clothing is covered in buttons bearing the faces of children who all have a piece of Bubble’s heart. Bubbles, born Nancy Dubin 72 years ago, is a legendary volunteer at Camp Sunshine in Rutledge, Georgia.

Unlike many who come to the childhood cancer movement because of a personal connection, Bubbles, a former school teacher, began volunteering because she thought it would be fun.

“It’s the best thing I ever did for myself.”

Photos | Bubbles at Camp Sunshine

Every summer, Bubbles volunteers at the sleep away camp for children with cancer. To walk across the Rutledge property with her is to be with a rock star, with echoes of “Bubbles!” following her every few steps. Children sprint to her for hugs and laughter and glitter.

As children work in one cabin, painting gourds and making pieces of art, Bubbles makes her way around the room, her pot of glitter at the ready. “Want some on your arms?” she asks one girl.

“Yes,” the girl says, looking shyly at the cameraman following Bubbles around.

Without missing a beat, Bubbles asks her, “You think the camera man should get some?"

The girl laughs. “Yes!”

Bubbles says of Camp Sunshine, “It's a place to come away from all their woes and troubles and whatever is going on in their lives and it's a chance just to be themselves and not think about anything that they're going through.”

A little while later, Bubbles is outside spreading glitter on the cheeks of a freckled faced girl. “Macy, what year is this for you at camp?”

“Second,” Macy answers.

“And what's different from last year to this year?”

“More new friends,” she answers.

“More new friends… and?”

“And a new leg,” Macy answers.

“A new leg that makes you able to do a lot more,” Bubbles responds.

Sally Hale, the executive director of Camp Sunshine says, “I think the biggest thing about Bubbles is her heart. She just has the capacity to love more children and volunteers than anyone I've known.”

The connections made at Camp Sunshine, are lifelong. “I’ve been a flower girl twice in two weddings. I'm a fairy godmother several times from children who've had children.”

It's a volunteer position that includes tremendous loss. Not every camper will make it to adulthood and this is when Bubbles dissolves into tears, discussing the harsh reality of working with children who are in a fight for their lives. “It's the kids that you lose that make you come back. You enrich the lives you can enrich. I never worry about their tomorrows. I only try to help their todays -- so for me it's all about the sparkle and the glitter and making them happy.”

Glitter may be her vehicle, but it's clear what Bubbles is really giving away -- her heart.

Bubbles is one of our 11 Who Care winners recognized for her extraordinary volunteerism. As a winner, she has been given an $1,100 check to go to the charity of her choice, which no surprise, is Camp Sunshine.