Miracle Monday: Camp Rainbow brings fun-filled days to kids fighting cancer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Children’s Hospital of Georgia is celebrating 40 years of Camp Rainbow this week.
At camp, children with cancer and their siblings spend relaxing, fun-filled days with other kids in similar situations.
It’s six days spent just being a kid, with the benefit of having medical staff at camp.
For some of the teens, they’re taking in every bit of Camp Rainbow they can this year, because it will be their last.
17-year-old Kennedy Martin has been coming to Camp Rainbow for the last four years.
Miracle Monday: Local Panda Express helping make a difference for families at CHOG
Tammi Kamae is the general manager of Panda Express in Evans, which just so happens to be a partner of the children’s hospital and is now reminding others why having this hospital here at home matters.
“It’s easy for us to stay locked in our rooms sometimes, but coming here, you get to be out with your friends and you friends from past years, and it’s just so much fun to be here and have a time where you can be free,” said Martin. “It’s my favorite thing ever. I love it.”She was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in 2020 and is now cancer-free.
Martin says the children’s hospital has always been so ive, especially the child life team, who spearhead the camp.
“You’re going through a hard time, it’s really hard, and some of us even go through depression, and they’re a light you get to see every day, and that helps you so much in the midst of such a hard time,” said Martin.
At Camp Rainbow, kids and teens spend the majority of their time outdoors zip-lining, kayaking, riding a boat, going through a ropes course, and swimming.
“It is a time for them to forget about the hospital, forget about the treatment, forget about getting poked and just have fun and be a kid,” said Kym Allen, director of Camp Rainbow.
Allen has been a part of the camp for 31 years, and she says it’s important for kids to be around others in similar situations.
“I can tell them what it’s like to have cancer and what the chemo is doing, but when they hear it from another eight-year-old, it makes all the difference in the world, and they’re like, if she can do it, I can do it,” said Allen.
Allen says that Camp Rainbow has grown over its 40 years.
Miracle Monday: 6-year-old overcomes heart defect
Nearly 40,000 babies are born with heart defects in the U.S. each year.
They partner with the YMCA’s Camp Lakeside in Lincolnton to put it on.
“Every year they are making the campsite bigger and better with a low ropes course, a zip line, a pamper pole, a climbing wall, so these kids are getting a full summer camp experience at this campsite,” said Allen.
For Kennedy and Michael Johnson, this is their last year at Camp Rainbow since they just graduated from high school. Michael says he’s encouraging others to keep going.
“Keep fighting, keep yourself motivated and you’ll win your fight,” said Michael.
Although Camp Rainbow is celebrating four decades, there’s still more in store for years to come.
“As long as there are still kids being diagnosed, I hope we can continue this because I think it truly heals their souls and helps them get through treatment and their pediatric journey,” said Allen.
The best part about Camp Rainbow is that it is funded 100% through donations. It costs around $600 to $700 to send one kid to camp.
Camp Rainbow is for kids ages 5 to 17, and there’s something to do for all ages.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
