CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Camp Rainbow is part of the Dream Factory, which was originally established in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to give seriously ill children the chance to have a special wish granted.

Diane Miner and Mary Woodall brought the Dream Factory program to Clarksville to grant wishes, and it quickly grew into Camp Rainbow.

Camp Director Jereme Miner, Diane Miner’s son, said Camp Rainbow is a camp held every year in June at Brandon Springs Group Camp at Land Between the Lakes for children that otherwise couldn’t go to a camp because of their medical condition.

The kids are affectionally known as campers, and each youngster is matched with an individual volunteer or counselor for the week. The children are also under the care and watchful eye of volunteer doctors and nurses from Premier Medical Group and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital 24 hours a day.

Camp Rainbow gives kids more of an opportunity to grow, and every day is filled with fun and educational activities for the campers as well as the counselors. There’s arts and crafts with a new craft each day, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, a carnival and more.

Bikers Who Care (BWC) has been one of the biggest supporters of Camp Rainbow for a number of years, and many members of the organization serve as counselors and volunteers. BWC hosts the carnival each year along with rides for the kids on their motorcycles. The children also put on a talent show and give gifts to the bikers to show their appreciation.

Each year, there are between 40 and 45 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old, along with close to 100 volunteers to take care of the children who come from Montgomery and surrounding counties.

Miner said everything at Camp Rainbow is free for both the children and their families, and 2021 will be the 38th year for the event.

Unfortunately, in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical officials determined the risk was too great for the medically fragile children and volunteers. Miner said all of the children, their families, and volunteers involved were heartbroken, so it is hoped that Camp Rainbow will be able return in 2021.

Show your support for Camp Rainbow and tune in for the annual Beaver 100.3 FM Camp Rainbow Radiothon, Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18 and 19 from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Join the Beaver radio air personalities as they share heartwarming stories and raise funds.

For more on the work of Camp Rainbow, visit clarksvillecamprainbow.org or call 931-647-9865.