Playing the Camp Rise Above way: 2/1

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Playing the Camp Rise Above way

Barbara Denton and volunteers from Camp Rise Above sang and interacted with patients at the MUSC Children's Hospital Atrium Jan. 30.

Barbara Denton, founder of Camp Rise Above, plays a guitar and conducts a sing along with young campers.

The program, which was founded in 2010 as a non-profit organization, has been a regular presence in the hospital, offering children with serious illnesses, life challenges and disabilities a chance to play and interact with others under a camp-like atmosphere.

Children receive a hat, T-shirt and Valentine's Day bag.

Three-year-old Lexi McCutcheon learns how to make sand sculptures with her grandmother at the camp's arts and crafts table.

To date, the program has supported more than 350 children at MUSC. In South Carolina, it is estimated that 58,000 children qualify as those with a serious medical illness.

Six-year-old Fallyn Hendrix casts her line to catch a fish alongside Barbara Denton at the stocked pond in the Children's Hospital Atrium.

Denton and camp organizers hope to extend the program this July by providing two-day activity camps at James Island County Park for Tri-County children diagnosed with heart or kidney disease, sickle cell, cancer and children of a deployed military parent.
Tyler Chamberlin, a 9-year-old patient, plays a game of ring toss with a blow-up octopus.

For more information, call 216-4851.

Friday, Feb. 1, 2013

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