A place where magic happens
When you step outside at Whitemoor Lakes in Staffordshire, you’re treated to a beautiful view of gently sloping grass that leads down to a glistening lake. Sat looking out over the view, is a wooden bench and a tree, both in memory of Alice Bartishel.
Alice spent a lot of time at Whitemoor Lakes in the years before she died. As a teacher, Alice had the six-weeks holiday to enjoy, and every summer from 2014, she spent several of those weeks at the ACUK site, volunteering with Over The Wall Camp. Sadly, in December 2017, Alice was diagnosed with a brain tumour. As camp meant so much to Alice, she continued to volunteer for as long as she could, stopping only when she was too unwell. On Friday 7th February 2020, just ten days before her 40th birthday, Alice died.
Now, six years later, those closest to Alice describe the ways in which her memory is still alive – including her bench and tree at Whitemoor Lakes, a place which has provided a setting for Over The Wall Camp’s transformative residentials for twelve years. Reflecting on Alice’s journey with Over The Wall Camp, it’s clear that her legacy is the difference she made to others.
Alice at camp
Hannah, a fellow volunteer, became good friends with Alice when they met at camp, and described how the campers “loved her and adored her silliness!”. Camp is a unique place where fun, silliness and ‘mischief and magic’ is brought to life and celebrated – something which Alice was particularly good at. Whether pairing her Over The Wall Camp t-shirt with a brightly coloured tutu, face paint, leg warmers, or an abundance of glitter, Alice shone both inside and out, always knowing how to create the ‘camp bubble’ for children and families to get immersed in.
Hannah explained that as well as the ‘wacky’, bubbly and fun side of Alice, there was also a very sensitive side. Alice would always spot the children who were struggling, the ones who needed some extra support, and the ones who might benefit from a quiet chat and some reassurance.
Something Hannah admires about Alice, is how she made every camper feel valued and seen. She would take the time to get to know the children in her team, or in the family she was supporting, and she’d make their experience the best it could be. One instance that Hannah remembers, was when a young boy told Alice how he was interested in photography, and that he’d entered a competition with a photo he took of some badgers at the bottom of his garden. Hannah was responsible for photography at that camp, so Alice took the young boy to her and asked if he could get involved and help her, which of course he loved!
Mischief and Magic beyond camp
It wasn’t just at camp that Alice was so thoughtful and caring. Because Alice embodied everything that Over The Wall Camp is about, her friends say that she brought the magic of camp to everyday life, too. Hannah remembers how she and Alice would send each other cards and letters. At camp, volunteers give each other ‘warm fuzzies’ throughout the week; these are little notes of encouragement and appreciation, and a way of pointing out the strengths and wonderful qualities they see in each other. But Alice wanted that kindness to reach beyond camp, so she would send ‘warm fuzzies’ outside of camp, too. “She was very good at knowing when you were struggling and needed picking up.”
Hannah shares, “It didn’t matter who you were or how you came to her, she would just want to make you laugh or smile, make you feel good about yourself, and build you up even when she wasn’t necessarily feeling at her best, she’d still try.” Alice’s selflessness and desire to help others extended beyond the camp community, her friends and family; before Alice became ill, she impressively donated more than 100 pints of blood over several years.
Alice gave so much to everyone who was lucky enough to cross paths with her. She made a huge impact on many Over The Wall Camp volunteers, staff and most importantly, campers. But Alice gained a lot from her time volunteering with the charity, too, which she described as her ‘happy place’ and where she felt ‘at home’.
Alice told her family about the people she met at camp, and how rewarding volunteering for Over The Wall Camp was. Her younger sister, Kate, said “She found ‘her people’ at camp. Being at camp was when she was truly happy and truly comfortable with the people that were around her. Whenever she came back from a camp, she’d be so content. You could definitely see a difference in her.”
“Over The Wall Camp helped release Alice’s potential… by all accounts, she flew when she was there! Camp had a big impact on Alice, and she passed that on to other people, and helped them release their own potential.”
Claire, fellow camp volunteer and friend of Alice, added “Camp meant so much to Alice, which is evident from how much time she spent there! For Alice, and many of us, camp was a place where she felt she belonged, accepted for who she was and free to be the best version of herself. Camp ignited some wonderful connections and friendships for Alice and gave her so many social opportunities that enriched her life – one of which was Alice travelling miles to be a part of my newly formed rounders team! Alice meant so much to camp too – the amount of people from Over The Wall Camp visiting her when she was unwell proves that.”
Alice's legacy
In the final months of her life, Alice’s collection of ‘warm fuzzies’ was added to by the many friends that visited her. One note reads ‘You are truly special and make everyone around you feel honestly loved and appreciated.’ But one message in particular, was the catalyst for a big part of Alice’s legacy… written by her friend James, again who Alice met at camp, it said ‘The world would be a better place, if only everyone would just be more Alice.’
Reflecting that perfectly, when Alice knew she was going to die, she said she didn’t want people to run marathons in her memory… instead, she wanted people to do things that had a very direct, tangible impact on others. She wanted people to give blood, to volunteer, and to make people’s days better.
When Alice died, determined to ‘be more Alice’, her friends, family, and the camp community set to work. Her sister, Kate, started giving blood, something she still does in Alice’s memory and encourages others to do. And in typical younger-sibling-fashion, Kate decided to ignore part of what Alice had told her, and actually decided to do the opposite! Kate decided not just to run a marathon, but to run an Ultra-Marathon! Her incredible achievement raised more than £5,000 for Over The Wall Camp, adding to the £5,000 donated at Alice’s funeral, where Kate said there was ‘no question’ about who they should raise money for.
Alice’s friend Joey, who she met at camp, made up some party bags with her partner Dave, and filled the bags with treats to brighten people’s days. Along with a note about Alice and Over The Wall Camp, Joey and Dave put them through the doors of all neighbors on their road, asking them to pay the kindness forward for Alice.
Thinking about the things that still keep Alice’s memory alive, Joey said “I think Alice lives on. I see little bits of her in other people. I still see people being ‘more Alice’. I see her kindness and her quirkiness in other camp volunteers. It helps it feel like she’s still there.”.
Remembering Alice
There are so many ways in which people remember Alice… Her dad, Bart, made a book full of memories for himself and Alice’s siblings, Kate and Luke, to look back on. He and Kate now wear the Over The Wall Camp t-shirts that Alice kept, which makes them feel close to her. And, for those who want to sit and have a quiet moment to think about Alice, there is a special place where they can instantly feel close to her… Whitemoor Lakes.
Claire, fellow camp volunteer and friend of Alice, set up a fundraiser after Alice died, to create a space in her memory. Claire explained, “Alice was such a massive part of the Over The Wall Camp community, particularly at the Midlands camps at Whitemoor Lakes. She will be forever missed at camp and will always hold a special place there. Having somewhere to go to reflect, remember, love, talk to, and honour Alice when at camp or nearby is our way of keeping her spirit alive and bring comfort to those she loved dearly.”
Alice helped to create so much magic with Over The Wall Camp, and a piece of that magic will always remain at Whitemoor Lakes, along with the memories so many people treasure from her time there. Thank you, Alice, for making the world a better place for so many people.
