American Kidney Fund, Johns Hopkins Children's Center Collaborate to Hold 16th Annual Camp All-Stars for Pediatric Kidney Patients

AKF support for event made possible by grant from Rockville-based Robert I. Schattner Foundation

ROCKVILLE, Md. (May 2, 2019) – The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced it is collaborating with the Johns Hopkins Children's Center to bring together nearly 40 children living with kidney disease during Johns Hopkins Children's Center's 16th Annual Camp All-Stars May 4-5. Camp All-Stars is an overnight camp empowering pediatric kidney patients and their families through education, activities and friendship-building in a fun, kid-oriented social environment.

AKF's Summer Enrichment Program supports specialized camps that can accommodate the medical needs of children living with kidney disease and helps families afford the cost. With generous funding from the Rockville-based Robert I. Schattner Foundation, AKF is providing each camper:

• A camping essentials pack — backpack, sleeping bag, pillow, water bottle, lunch bag, flashlight, beach towel, hat, shirt, jacket and first aid kit, to be well-equipped for a fun-filled two days of indoor and outdoor activities, including zip-lining and rope climbing.
• Art supplies to create an entry for AKF's Calendar Kids Art Program, an annual nationwide art contest for children and teens living with kidney disease which will give campers a chance to create an artistic expression of the challenges and realities of living with kidney disease.
• A trip to the U.S. Capitol, where campers will receive a tour and meet with their Congressional representatives.
• A chance to be one of five Camp All-Stars campers who will attend AKF's annual gala, The Hope Affair, with a parent this fall.

"We are so grateful to the American Kidney Fund to help us continue our annual camp for pediatric kidney patients," said Alicia Neu, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins's Children's Center. "At Johns Hopkins Children's Center, we see hundreds of pediatric kidney patients a year and we know programs like Camp All-Stars help ease the emotional burden for families navigating treatment for this chronic disease."

Kidney disease in children, adolescents and very young adults most frequently stems from birth defects, genetic diseases, infection, nephrotic syndrome, systemic diseases, trauma, and urinary tract issues. Children whose kidney disease progresses to kidney failure have a much higher rate of transplantation (72%) than adults (29.6%). 

"Children living with kidney disease often face restrictions that can make them feel different, or left out, from their peers at school. Our Summer Enrichment Program gives them a fun camp experience that accommodates their unique needs," said LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. "We're honored to work with the Johns Hopkins Children's Center to help ease this burden and bring some relief to our local families, and we are grateful to the Robert I. Schattner Foundation for its grant that makes this possible."