July 5, 2006

The 21st annual Camp COCO will host 119 campers with cancer and other blood disorders during its one-week session July 9 through 14. A project of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, the camp will be held at the Timber Pointe Outdoor Conference Center on Lake Bloomington. The theme for this year's camp is "Carnival COCO, 2006."

( Note – the campers' 59 different hometowns are listed at the end of this release.)

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

"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 medical director. Brandt, director of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at the SIU Cancer Institute, works with his team plus staff from St. Jude's and Carle to provide medical support to the camp.

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.

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.

- 30 -

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 (or on the weekend – Ruth, 793-8200, or Nancy, 787-2224). 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.

The camp is located on Lake Bloomington. From Bloomington, take I-39 (Illinois Route 51) north to Lake Bloomington Road (2500N), then go right (east) on Lake Bloomington Road to the entrance of the Timber Pointe Outdoor Conference Center. From Peoria, take I-74 east, exit on

I-55 north; then exit on I-39 (Illinois Route 51) north to Lake Bloomington Road (2500N), then go right (east) on Lake Bloomington Road to the entrance of the Timber Pointe Center.