Published: May 14, 2008 09:03 pm            

American Cancer Society’s summer deadline nears

TERRE HAUTE — The application deadline for the American Cancer Society’s summer camping programs is approaching for the 2008 summer sessions. Applications for Young Camper’s Day and Camp Catch-A-Rainbow are due by Friday and applications for the Young Adult Retreat are due by June 13.

Each year, the American Cancer Society offers free summer camping programs to enrich the lives of children who are being treated for cancer, or who are in remission from cancer. Camp Catch-A-Rainbow is a weeklong summer camping experience, June 15-20, for children 7 to 15 at the YMCA Storer Camps near Jackson, Mich. Young Camper’s Day is a one-day program June 15, offered for children ages 4 to 6. Young adult cancer survivors who are age 16 to 20 are invited to take part in the Young Adult Retreat in South Bend on July 10-13, on the campus of St. Mary’s College.

“Camp provides the opportunity for these children to simply have fun and enjoy the experience of exercise, recreation and companionship through activities paced to meet the needs of a young cancer patient,” said Kathleen Wilson, childhood cancer support and patient programs manager, American Cancer Society.

Registration applicants from Indiana and Michigan are now being accepted, with a physician’s approval, for each of these summer camping programs. Application forms can be obtained by contacting 1-800-ACS-2345 or online at www.cancer.org/camprainbow or www.cancer.org/retreat.

Health care professionals are available at all camping programs 24 hours a day and most medical treatments, with the exception of radiation therapy, can be done on-site or at a nearby cancer center.

Camp Catch-A-Rainbow is accredited by the American Camping Association and is licensed through the state of Michigan. The American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc., serving Indiana and Michigan, funds Young Camper's Day, Camp Catch-A-Rainbow and the Young Adult Retreat.

        

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