Benevolent Babies Give to Children Fighting Cancer

The family and friends of Max are giving to children and teens fighting cancer. The family of one-year-old Max Gnade of Frankfort decided to ask friends to bring toys and gift card donations to their family party. When the party was over, Max accumulated toys and $175 to donate to The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Mom Tina Gnade said “My brother was a recipient of the Treasure Chest and the Treasure Chest Foundation is near and dear to my family. My brother has been in remission for 12 years now.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “We feel so blessed to have the support of the Gnade family and all of their friends. Today the Gnade family has given back to the Treasure Chest Foundation, and for that we are extremely grateful.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,000 young cancer patients enduring 20,000 clinic visits each month in 19 states across the nation. 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 25th anniversary of remission from the disease in March.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s web site at www.treasurechest.org.

Photo caption:

(L-r) Three-year-old Bennett, one-year-old Max and four-year-old Lily Gnade display the donated toys at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse. Their donation of toys will help comfort young cancer patients nationwide.