medical camp offers family time for

Medical Camp Offers Family Time For Kids With TIP

With family vacations coming up this month and in April, many families

are busy planning outings to grab some much needed time together. This

is a much needed part of today's family life for all families,

including those who have a family member battling a major medical

condition. Thankfully, for many medical conditions, there are emerging

family camps to help given families that much needed break from every

day life but with the peace of mind that their loved-one's medical

needs will be cared for. Specialized medical camps also allow kids to

develop a peer group and realize they are far from being alone.

I recently learned there was a special family camp for kids with a

bleeding disorder called, ITP, or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura.

This is an immune disorder where the body attacks its own platelets

causing the person to bleed easily and spontaneously bleed if the

platelet count becomes low enough. As you might imagine, an illness

like this causes a huge stress on a family. So, having a way to

unwind, and feel less alone, is important for the healing process as

well as overall family well being.

The ITP foundation asked me to share the following information with

you:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ITP Foundation Announces ITP Family Weekend at Hole in the Wall Gang

Camp

Darien, CT - The ITP Foundation, dedicated to battling the bleeding

disorder ITP (immune thrombocytopenic purpura) in children, announced

today that the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp will hold a special ITP

Family Weekend at its facilities in Ashford, CT on April 18-20. The

camp is specifically for families with a child or children affected by

chronic ITP.

"There will be many fun activities, educational programs, camp

activities, and most of all, a chance to meet and share information

with other families who know about the special challenges associated

with ITP," said Christopher Landino, Executive Director of the ITP

Foundation. During the weekend, the ITP Foundation will also schedule

a parents-only informational meeting with a doctor with significant

experience with ITP.

All of this takes place in the beautiful surroundings of the world

famous Hole in the Wall Gang Camp located in upstate Connecticut and

started with donations from Newman's Own, the food company created by

Paul Newman. Newman is still an active member of the Camp's Board of

Directors.

"We are very excited that the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is again

opening its doors to children with ITP and their families, as they did

in our inaugural collaboration in 2007," said Landino. "We feel

fortunate that this renowned organization recognizes the needs of

families dealing with the challenges associated with ITP and is

willing to help in this special way."

"The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is pleased to be working with the ITP

Foundation on this special weekend camp," said Dr. Sharon Space,

Medical Director of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. "The Camp is

dedicated to helping children and families deal with the challenges

associated with many different diseases and illnesses, and we are glad

that we can offer our services to those affected by chronic ITP."

There is no cost to families to attend, other than providing their own

transportation to and from the Camp. The ITP Foundation has

established a small travel fund for families who, without assistance,

might not otherwise be able to attend. Grants will be awarded on a

case-by-case basis.

Any family with a child age 5-15 who has chronic ITP is eligible to

attend.

Completed application forms are due by February 29.

Applications are available at: www.holeinthewallgang.org or at

www.itpfoundation.org. For more information, please contact the ITP

Foundation: camp@itpfoundation.org.

About ITP and the ITP Foundation

ITP is a disorder of the blood that involves the immune system and

occurs in about 4 in 100,000 children, causing spontaneous bruising

and/or bleeding throughout the body. The ITP Foundation is a

non-profit organization established to raise awareness of ITP, fund

ITP research and help families with children and adolescents who have

ITP and need financial assistance to manage and treat this dangerous

bleeding disorder. The Foundation takes an active role in raising

awareness of ITP through outreach efforts on both national and local

levels. This is done through sporting, social and educational events.

The primary focus is on sponsorship of endurance athletes who raise

funds for the ITP Foundation.

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