Thursday night, bands will converge on Luther’s Blues to help raise funds to send HIV-infected youngsters to summer camp in Minnesota.

“We work all year to fundraise, educate, volunteer in the community,” said organizer Amanda Wilkins.

Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. concert are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Proceeds from the concert will go toward Camp Heartland, which was established 10 years ago by a UW alum with the goal of giving children affected by the onset of HIV/AIDS the opportunity to experience the carefree days of childhood and play with other children their age.

The camp encourages AIDS awareness for children who have HIV or AIDS, live with a parent or sibling who is infected or have lost a close family member to the disease.

Heartland recently became a year-round program and is now the largest summer camp for children infected with or affected by HIV, Wilkins said.

While children attend for free, the camp must raise $3,000 for year-round support for one child. Currently 400 children attend Heartland each summer, and 200 more children are on the waiting list.

Those interested in learning more about Camp Heartland or Thursday’s benefit concert can visit www.campheartland.org or call 712-7755.

In addition, the group meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Memorial Union, TITU.