Queen of Hearts Raffle to Benefit Children and Teens with Cancer

WHAT: Area residents have an opportunity to support children and teens fighting cancer by purchasing a Queen of Hearts raffle ticket, $1 each or 6 for $5. Queen of Hearts pot is $11,107 as of April 18th at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at Dakota Inn seven days a week, during regular business hours. All proceeds benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation located in Orland Park.

WHO: 21 years of age and older.

WHEN: Buy tickets at Dakota Inn: (M - Sat 7 a.m. - 2 a.m.) (Sundays - 9 a.m. - 2 a.m.) Tickets will be drawn on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Dakota Inn, 12119 S. Pulaski, Alsip, IL.

WHY: The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 cancer treatment centers in 21 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin celebrated his 30th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

CONTACT: If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please visit our website at treasurechest.org. or contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697).

If you would like further information about the Queen of Hearts drawing or rules, please call or contact Dakota Inn at 1-708-388-6622.