The mission of Kids Cancer Alliance is to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer and their families through recreational and support programs.

Kids Cancer Alliance was started in 1981 as a joint effort between a group of volunteers in the Lake Cumberland area and the Kentucky Cancer Program. The founding vision was to provide a “normal” camping experience for children with cancer. This was a very novel idea at the time, since there were only two other oncology camps across the country.

During that first summer, 20 campers — including both oncology patients and their siblings — attended camp. The thirty member volunteer staff consisted of doctors and nurses from the University of Kentucky as well as members of the community.

Kids Cancer Alliance continued to grow, and in 1994, was established as an independent registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the guidance of the Friends of Indian Summer, Inc. Board of Directors.

In recent years, Kids Cancer Alliance expanded its services to children with cancer and their families and, thus, became Kids Cancer Alliance, Inc. in 2013. Kids Cancer Alliance now proudly offers oncology and sibling camps, teen and family retreats, quarterly events, in-hospital programs, as well as financial support — all completely free to children with cancer and their families.