Lots of Smiles at Rainbow Bridge Summer Camp

Supporting Children with Epilepsy

From July 24-25, Project HOPE, in partnership with UCB and the Guangzhou Children’s Medical Center (GCMC), recently held the Rainbow Bridge Summer Camp at the Guangzhou Lotus Resort in China. Twenty-five families participated in a variety of activities, games and expert lectures. The purpose of the Rainbow Bridge summer camp is to show children with epilepsy that they can lead normal lives. The camp also offers support to the children’s parents.

As early as registration, both the children and their parents were talking with one another and seemed excited to be there. Dr. Mai Jian’ning, a professor and Director of the Neurology Unit at GCMC, gave a very heartfelt welcoming speech to all of the participants.

The afternoon activities provided an opportunity for the families to bond and have some fun. The games, led by the hardworking medical staff at GCMC, were a big hit with everyone. They started with a game of charades, followed by a game called “Biscuit on a String,” where a family member must be guided to a string with a biscuit on the end and eat the biscuit with no hands. Everyone enjoyed the games, and the activities offered a great opportunity for families to have fun together and get to know each other.

In the evening, parents attended a lecture given by Dr. Mai called “Caring for Your Child with Epilepsy.” Parents were then able to ask questions and were very grateful for the information.

The next day, the families were able to share a sunny morning walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery of nearby Lotus Mountain. After the nature walk, the campers returned to the Lotus Resort for the awards ceremony. Each of the campers was recognized for being an excellent participant, receiving an award certificate, flower and gift.  After lots of pictures and “goodbyes,” the camp closed with a moving group sing-along of the song “Thankful Heart.”