Camp Oasis in Full Swing

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Camp hopes to have diseases on the run!

Join Team Challenge and be part of Challenge, Change and a Cure

It looks just like any other summer camp, complete with counselors, cabins and of course plenty of activities for campers. But there's something different about Camp Oasis.

“It really helps to know that there are this many other kids who have the same issues and the same problems,” says a mother of one of the campers.

This is the family’s second year dropping son Matthew off at Camp Oasis - a camp specifically for children with Crohn's Disease and Colitis.

“Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are a digestive disease,” said Rebecca Lawton with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, which coordinates the campout. “A lot of people with the disease go to the bathroom frequently. Several times a day, several times to 30 to 40 times per day,” said Lawton.

The summer getaway in Waupaca gives more than 85 children from around the Midwest a camping opportunity they may not otherwise get. The camp has grown from 20 campers since its inception in 2000. This speaks greatly to the work CCFA has done to educate and inform, while providing resources and opportunity.

Camp Oasis has just about everything a typical summer camp has. But it needs two doctors, four nurses and roughly 30 counselors in order to meet the children's needs.

“For many of them, they don't feel like they can go to just a standard camp,” said Dr. Michael Stephens who takes a break from his job at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to help out at the camp.

Camp Oasis relies on money raised through two of CCFA’s largest fundraisers, Take Steps and Team Challenge. Team Challenge is the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's endurance training and fundraising program. Through Team Challenge, you can run or walk a half marathon, while helping to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, two chronic and often debilitating digestive diseases that impact 1.4 million Americans.

Each participant in Team Challenge is given a fundraising goal. Fundraising goals differ in range based on the location of the team and the event destination. Each participant has the entire season to fundraise and is asked to reach their goal two weeks prior to their race. In exchange for reaching your goal, you receive many benefits. Team Challenge provides you with fundraising clinics, a personalized fundraising website, fundraising tools, a supportive Team Manager to guide you, and a mentor to help you along the way!

To hear how you can be a part of supporting this wonderful experience, help fund critical research, provide education and support for patients and families, please attend a Team Challenge informational meeting in your area.

Team Challenge WI is headed back to Las Vegas! On December 4th, we will be racing the VEGAS STRIP AT NIGHT!

To learn more about this amazing program, RSVP for an information meeting by contacting Becky Burris (rburris@ccfa.org or 414-475-5520)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

7:00 pm, Wauwatosa WAC

8700 W Watertown Plank

Wauwatosa, WI 53226

Saturday, August 13, 2011

9:00 am, Westwood Health and Fitness Center

2900 Golf Road

Pewaukee, WI 53072

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

6:00 pm, Community Bark Dog Wash & Coffee Bar

326 Brown Deer Road,

Bayside, WI 53217

Thursday, August 18, 2011

6:30 pm, Oak Creek Library

8620 S Howell Ave

Oak Creek, WI 53154

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

5:30 pm, Dave & Buster's

2201 North Mayfair Road

Wauwatosa, WI 53226

Please visit the CCFA Wisconsin Chapter website for more information on resources, events and current research developments. ccfa.org/chapters/Wisconsin 414-475-5520

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Wisconsin Chapter

1126 South 70th Street Suite S210A

Milwaukee, WI 53214

Telephone 414-475-5520 Fax: 414-475-5502 Toll Free 877-586-5588 Email infowisconsin@ccfa.org

National Headquarters: Tel: 800-932-2423 Email info @ccfa.org, Internet www.ccfa.org

A Proud Member of Community Health Charities