Happy Campers are Active with Asthma

(July 1, 2012)—

Milwaukee, WI – The 2012 American Lung Association’s Active with Asthma camp has finished on a high (and hot) note at Bay View High School in Milwaukee. For five days in June, 31 children, ages 8 – 13, on daily asthma medication, came to the Lung Association camp to have fun, experience new activities and learn how to better manage their asthma. 

Campers received asthma education every day of camp and also participated in swimming, rock climbing, golf, bowling, paddle boating and picnicking at the Milwaukee lakefront. One of the camp days was spent tailgating and attending a Brewer game at Miller Park, complements of The Milwaukee Brewers. Several lucky campers were invited down to the field, prior to the game, to meet Brewers first baseman, Corey Hart.

The Lung Association partnered with Children’s Community Health Plan, Milwaukee Public Schools and Medical College of Wisconsin to hold Active with Asthma camp. This year’s camp was led by Dr. Ria Chiu, a pediatric immunologist at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, with volunteers from the partnering organizations and American Lung Association staff.  Bruce and Kathleen Dreyer and Lee Ann Corning, swimming instructors and lifeguards for MPS, not only supervised swimming but provided swimming instruction to campers, many of whom had never had a swim class before.

“Camp has such a tremendous impact on a child with asthma,” said Michelle Mercure, Director of Mission Services for the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. “Kids learn that they can do so many activities safely, even when they have asthma – it really opens up their worlds. We are incredibly grateful for the caring and passionate volunteers at this year’s camp. It was a great week, and a hot week, and we’re already looking forward to next year.”

For more information, contact Michelle Mercure at 262-703-4845 or michelle.mercure@lungwi.org.