WMC Foundation awards campership to local youth

The Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation has awarded Cole Phillips of Ridgeway a campership to Camp Hertko Hollow in Boone, Iowa for the 2011 summer session.  Camp Hertko Hollow is a camp for youth managing diabetes.  Phillips (11) is the son of Anthony and Julie Phillips. 

Camp Hertko Hollow was founded in 1968 with 37 campers by Dr. Edward Hertko of Des Moines.  The camp has grown to over 350 campers and 120 staff volunteers each summer.  Nancy Gilson, RN, CDE at Winneshiek Medical Center says, "The week-long camp provides youth the opportunity to interact and make friends with other kids with diabetes – relationships that encourage social and emotional growth –while learning more about their disease."  She adds, "Kids can participate in traditional camp activities with others just like them."

The campership, funded through donations from the Calmar Corvette Club for local diabetes education and prevention, was made available to Winneshiek County youth with diabetes through an application process.  Phillips was selected based on his responses to essay questions as well as meeting the application criteria.
 
Gilson says, "Early education on how to manage diabetes greatly increases the likelihood these youth will make a life-time commitment to healthy diabetes care.  Kids that go to camp will gain the tools to better manage their disease through adulthood."  

For more information on diabetes education opportunities at Winneshiek Medical Center, contact the nutrition services department at 563.387.3158 or your primary health care provider.