TOPSHAM – Children affected by cancer, ages 4 through high school, are invited to attend the American Cancer Society’s Camp Rainbow during the week of June 17 to 23.

The society, in cooperation with Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Bangor Ronald McDonald House and the Bangor YMCA Camp Jordan, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of offering the free camp to children with cancer.

Camp Rainbow has been in operation since 1987 and is a special place where kids with cancer can smile, laugh and play. The weeklong camping experience helps meet the physical, psychological and emotional needs of hundreds of young cancer patients and their families.

The camp operates at Camp Jordan on Branch Lake in Ellsworth. Due to financial contributions from the American Cancer Society’s friends and donors, participants will be able to attend Camp Rainbow free.

To celebrate Camp Rainbow’s 20th anniversary, the society is looking for sponsors to help provide an American Cancer Society teddy bear, Hugh R. Hope, for each child to take home. For each donation of $25, a bear will be waiting on each bunk bed when the campers arrive.

The goal is to have 100 bears donated. To sponsor a bear, contact Lisa Charter at 373-3722 or [email protected] for an order form.

Children in treatment for cancer as well as those who are up to 10 years post-treatment are eligible to attend Camp Rainbow. Children ages 4 to 6 may attend with a parent or guardian; those 7 and older may attend alone.

Chemotherapy and blood tests are given onsite by the medical staff, and the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic at Eastern Maine Medical Center provides 24-hour medical staffing for the week.

For more information and an application, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.