President George W. Bush will meet Dr. Joann Sanders upon arrival in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, March 8, 2004. Sanders volunteers each summer at Camp John Marc, a special camp for children with serious illnesses and physical disabilities.

Earlier this year, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation – celebrated its second anniversary. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country, like Sanders, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

For the past 13 years, Sanders has volunteered one week each summer as the medical director for Camp Sanguinity, a one-week summer program that serves 140 children with cancer each year. Located at the Camp John Marc facility in Bosque County, Texas, Camp Sanguinity provides a residential camp experience for children with cancer to help build self esteem, provide peer interaction, and offer these children an opportunity for adventure. As a pediatric oncologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center, Sanders is familiar with many of the children who attend Camp John Marc. In addition to her role as medical director, Sanders often joins campers in different activities including arts and crafts, sports and games, and the ropes course. She often looks for ways to support campers with special needs so they are better able to fully participate in the camp experience. Since 1989, Sanders has also served as a member of the board of trustees for the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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