July 7, 2004

Children With Cancer Attend SIU Med School's 19th Camp COCO

The 19th annual Camp COCO will host 94 campers with cancer and other blood disorders during its one-week session July 10 through 16. A project of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the camp will be held at the Timber Pointe Outdoor Conference Center on Lake Bloomington. The theme for this year's Camp is Back to the Past. (Note - a list of the campers' 50 different hometowns is attached.)

The campers from central Illinois receive special attention from a number of SIU's pediatric staff who spend the week providing medical care and getting to know their patients better. Health professionals who treat some of the other area campers at the St. Jude's Affiliate in Peoria and Carle Clinic in Champaign as well as various community volunteers from Springfield also provide care and assistance.

"The children are encouraged to enjoy a week of activities, taking a vacation from their chronic concerns and treatment, and just have fun. Campers have a chance to relate differently to their fellow patients, siblings, our medical team and themselves," said Dr. Gregory P. Brandt, SIU assistant professor of pediatrics and camp director.

There are more than 80 camps listed with Children's Oncology Camps of America, which coordinates communication between the various camps and helps develop guidelines for their operation. Two other camps are located in the Chicagoland area.

The SIU pediatrics department has established the COCO Children's Cancer Fund, which supports the camp as well as year-round projects for patients being treated for hematological and oncological diseases. This year's camp is supported by the generosity of more than 300 individuals, service clubs and businesses. Brandt, director of the Pediatric and Hematology Center at the SIU Cancer Institute, uses a multidisciplinary approach and works with a team of pediatric specialists.

Contributions to the COCO Children's Cancer Fund can be made payable to and mailed to the Camp COCO/SIU Foundation, P.O. Box 19666, Springfield, Ill. 62794-9666, 217-545-2955.

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NOTE TO THE MEDIA: At the request of the camp director and as a courtesy to the children, we ask that all media visits be scheduled in advance through SIU's Office of Public Affairs, 217-545-2155 (includes taped details about weekend contact). The camp is located on Lake Bloomington. From Bloomington, take Illinois Route 51 north to Lake Bloomington Road (2500N), then right (east) on Lake Bloomington Road to the entrance of the Timber Pointe Outdoor Conference Center. Hometowns for Camp COCO campers are listed below. We do not release names of campers in advance, but will query campers about specific interview requests. Most are agreeable to interviews and photos.