6/13/13 - With preliminary site plan approval from the Putnam Township Planning Commission, a local camp for children with medical conditions is quickly becoming a reality. Organizers hope to open North Star Reach on a stretch of land owned by the University of Michigan near Pinckney. It will provide a full camp experience for children whose medical conditions would otherwise prevent them from attending a typical camp. It was founded by Doug Armstrong, a 26-year nurse from U of M Hospital who has been taking children who have received organ transplants to summer camp for the past 13 years. He says about $10 million has been raised for the nonprofit camp through philanthropic organizations like the Ted and Jane Von Voightlander Foundation. Another $16 million is being sought, which would provide the camp with enough money to open and operate for the next two or three years. Armstrong says the camp would be open year-round with different activities including horseback riding, swimming, various sports, archery, and hiking. The summer months would be divided into different weeks for children with particular medical conditions, such as organ transplants, cancer, limited mobility, heart conditions, and sickle cell anemia. A fundraising event for the camp will be held at Ann Arborâs Travis Point Country Club on August 12th. For more information on the camp or how to donate, follow the link below. (TD)
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