Community Corner
Toy Drive in Honor of Brave Warrior Jacob Abraham
Toy Drive in Honor of Brave Warrior Jacob Abraham to Benefit Children with Cancer
WHAT: Area residents have an opportunity to support children and teens fighting cancer by donating a new toy, coloring books, crayons and playdough in honor of Jacob Abraham’s 9th Birthday Celebration. October 17th, 2022 would have marked the 9th birthday of Jacob Abraham, a little guy whose treatment for childhood cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma) did not go well. Jacob succumbed to the disease on August 19, 2016.
WHO: All are welcome.
WHEN: Now until October 14, 2022.
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WHERE: Nicky V's Beef and Dogs formally Doug’s Dogs located at 6200 W. 159th Street, Oak Forest, IL.
WHY: Jacob’s mother, Meghan Abraham, recalls that Jacob loved his visits to the Treasure Chest at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. “The Treasure Chest helped Jacob get through painful visits while undergoing treatment for cancer,” said Meghan. “He would play for hours with play dough, coloring books and crayons. He enjoyed the smaller toys and never picked a large toy out of the Treasure Chest.” The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 15,700 young cancer patients in 65 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 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.
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CONTACT: If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697).
Pictured (Top): Nicky V’s Beef and Dogs Cashier Austin Reilly, cooks Lety Ruiz and Jose Garcia at Nicky V’s Beef and Dogs restaurant displaying the collection box. Austin Reilly said, “Owner Nick Versetto enjoys helping charities and families. We are happy to support a great cause.”
Pictured (Below): One-year-old Jacob Abraham and Mom Meghan visit the Treasure Chest in 2014 at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL.
