Lands’ End Toy Drive to Benefit Children Fighting Cancer

WHAT: Area residents and businesses have an opportunity during the month of October to support children and teens fighting cancer by donating a new toy, gift card or gift during the Lands’ End Toy Drive for Children with Cancer. All proceeds will benefit the Orland Park-based Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), a non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 63 treatment centers nationwide.

WHO: Adults and children are welcome. Bring unwrapped toys or gifts for teens and receive a 10% discount on one transaction up to three items. (No stuffed animals please).

WHERE: Lands’ End, 101 Oak Brook Center in Oak Brook.

WHEN: Saturday, October 9th – Saturday, October 23rd

Store hours: (Monday - Saturday 10 am – 8 pm, Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm)

WHY: The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,700 young cancer patients in 63 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 28th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

CONTACT: If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation or the event, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS 8697).