Laughter Mission helps create a healing environment with humour

David C. Jones fully realized the power of laughter as he cared for his dying mother at her bedside close to five years ago. Stricken with ALS, she wasted away before his eyes. But Jones, a professional comedian, actor, producer and writer, did his best to make those final days as comfortable as possible.

“I discovered that the more I could make her laugh, the less she thought about her illness,” Jones says. “When she died, I thought, ‘Let’s expand this idea.’ ”

And so the Laughter Mission was born.

The non-profit society provides comedic entertainment to the sick, working to create a healing environment with laughter. Over the past three years, Jones has assembled an ever-growing group of professional performers who donate their time to brighten the lives of others, providing a welcome break from the stressful and often traumatic process of dealing with a serious illness.

“[We] offer those dealing with sickness, terminal illness and their caregivers a chance to purge with laughter,” he says.

And while the gift of laughter the performers provide those suffering from a terminal illness is truly priceless, there is also a valuable benefit for the performers themselves, Jones notes – perspective.

“Performers can be a little self-focused for lack of a better term,” says Jones. “Working with people who’s lives have been devastated certainly makes them more reflective.”

This weekend, the Laughter Mission is coming to Maple Ridge to perform for the campers at the Canadian Cancer Society’s Camp Goodtimes at Loon Lake.

The camp hosts children affected by cancer, as well as their families, giving the kids a chance to escape from the rigors of dealing with their illness, and just be a kid again.

“The minute a child becomes diagnosed, they are thrust into a very adult world,” says the camp’s program activities director, Pol Gomez. “They are cut off from their friends, from school and can’t participate in sports.”

This year marks the camp’s 25th summer and the third year in a row the Laughter Mission will be performing for the kids there.

Camp manager Dave MacKenzie said the purpose of the Laughter Mission has much in common with the camp.

“They really fit well with what we do here,” he says. “They don’t just make us laugh, they show us the potential of having that positive energy.

“It helps build a healing environment.”

Gomez said the group’s performances are one of the highlights of the summer for the campers.

“We wouldn’t be able to afford this kind of professional entertainment otherwise,” he says. “We’re very fortunate to have to have them here.

“After all, laughter is the best medicine,”

• For more information on the Laughter Mission, visit www.laughtermission.com. Visit www.bc.cancer.ca/campgoodtimes to find out more about Camp Goodtimes.