Camp Discovery Offers Fun-Filled Week for Children with Cancer

After medical checkups and a first-class send off, close to 30 area kids ages 7 to 16 will board the bus on Sunday, July 13 for a 10:00 a.m. departure from Medical City to a fun-filled week at the American Cancer Society's Camp Discovery. The American Cancer Society provides the camp at no cost to the children who attend.

The children - all cancer patients from North Texas Hospital for Children at Medical City are attending the 20th annual week at Camp Discovery in Kerrville, Texas (50 miles north of San Antonio) along with approximately 130 other children from Texas cancer centers. Camp Discovery allows each child to learn different aspects of living with cancer, spend time with other children who have had similar experiences, and enjoy a week without the pressures of being in a hospital environment. Special arrangements are made for children to receive necessary medications and treatments at the camp.

The mission of the American Cancer Society's Camp Discovery is to give children who have cancer a fun, relaxed, natural environment where they can enjoy all of the experiences of camp - and share those experiences with other children affected by cancer. Camp staff members are volunteers dedicated to providing a supportive, fun camping environment for participants. Swimming, archery, dances, the annual talent night and other camp activities give campers the opportunity to build self-esteem, experience personal growth and become role models for others.

North Texas Hospital for Children at Medical City is a member of the Children's Oncology Group, which gives children with cancer in North Texas access to the National Cancer Institute's state-of-the-art treatment and protocols. Medical City is the only hospital in North Texas performing both adult and pediatric bone marrow transplant.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

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