Camp Jubilee
(for victims of Sickle Cell Disease)
Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disease that can cause bouts
of pain, damage to vital organs, and for some, death in childhood or
early adulthood. Sickle Cell Disease affects a protein inside the red
blood cells called hemoglobin. It occurs when a person inherits two
sickle cell genes or a combination of one sickle cell gene plus any
one of several other abnormal hemoglobin genes that affect the red
blood cells. In the United States, most cases of sickle cell disease
occur among blacks, and Hispanics of Caribbean ancestry. About one in
every 400 to 600 blacks inherits sickle cell disease. The disease also
affects some people of Arabian, Greek, Maltese, Italian, Sardinian,
Turkish and southern Asian ancestry.
Although there are many new ideas that may lead someday to a cure,
there is now no satisfactory drug or other therapy that will correct
the disease-causing gene or prevent pain episodes. However, a number
of new therapies for reducing the severity and frequency of pain
crises are being tried. There also has been much progress in medical
care that limits damage to the organs from the Sickle Cell Disease.
This care has greatly improved survival and the quality of life for
many patients.
Camp Jubilee is a week-long summer camp for children, ages 6-14, with
Sickle Cell Disease who are treated through Children's Medical Center
of Dallas. The camp is help annually at Camp John Marc, a facility
designed especially for special needs children which is located
approximately 85 miles southwest of Dallas.
Continued support of the Junior League of Dallas and the Children's
Medical Center of Dallas, along with growing community involvement,
enables children with Sickle Cell Disease to enjoy this adventure at
no cost.
WGI first became involved with Camp Jubilee in 1998. Tomeka Moses,
WGI's Manager of Corporate Communications & Business Processes, is on
the camp's Board of Directors.
"I'm looking forward to volunteering my time to help children at the
camp. I'm sure it will be a very rewarding experience," she said.
The benefits that children receive by going to Camp Jubilee include
the following:
*More confidence and independence
*Increased self-worth and self-esteem
*Opportunity to meet friends
*Have new and exciting experiences
Camp activities include the following:
Horseback riding, Swimming, Fishing, Canoeing, Arts, and Crafts,
Sports and Games, Nature walks. If you would like to volunteer or
donate funds to Camp Jubilee, contact Tomeka Moses at
Tomeka@wilkins.com
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