When a child gets diagnosed with childhood cancer, the diagnosis affects the entire family. While no family wants to imagine the unthinkable happening, the reality is that children get diagnosed with cancer every day and it puts families in a spot where their entire world shifts, yet life still continues. There are bills to pay, jobs to work, school to attend, and everyday obligations, in addition to the well-being of the sick child and the rest of the family, as well as financial considerations, and the list goes on.
HIS KIDS Cancer Support Group was founded in 1984 and it is a nonprofit that helps ease the financial burden of treatment by providing food, holiday gifts, and other needs to families.HIS KIDS founders Jim and Connie Miles lost their daughter Marcia to childhood cancer in 1982 and for over four decades the nonprofit has helped families navigating childhood cancer.
Another part of the organization’s mission is to bring hope and joy to all family members at all stages of their childhood cancer battle- from diagnosis, throughout treatment, and beyond through uplifting events and therapeutic programs, including its annual Camp HIS KIDS summer camp.
The camp provides a unique experience by giving both children with cancer as well as their siblings an opportunity to meet other kids that are going through the same circumstances. The camp is therapeutically designed to meet the emotional and social needs of campers as well as the physical ones, with activities planned by an art therapist, counselor, recreation specialist, and an early childhood education specialist.
Camp HIS KIDS was located at a campground in Illinois for several years, but in 2026 it will be held at a campsite right here in Franklin County. Camp HIS KIDS relies on around 50 volunteers to make the week long event a success for children, and the nonprofit is currently seeking volunteers for the July 19-24 event.
There are numerous ways to make an impact as a volunteer, and the organization is seeking day volunteers to help out in various roles. Volunteers may help with things like activity setup to more specialized roles for photographers, lifeguards, and camp nurses (must be an RN). If you’re unable to physically volunteer, you may support the camp with a monetary donation. The organization has an Amazon wish list filled with supplies needed for camp. View the wish list here.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Camp HIS KIDS should apply online.
More about Camp HIS KIDS
Camp HIS KIDS has been twice awarded the Stellar Performance Award for Best Special Needs Camp in the St. Louis area, and is a member of the Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA) which strengthens children’s cancer camps through networking, education, and advocacy. In 2017, the organization was awarded Gold Ribbon Camp Status for exceptional oncology camping and was re-certified in 2022.
Find out more about HIS KIDS by visiting its website, or follow the organization on Facebook.
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