Boy Hosts Second Annual “Cups 4 Cancer” Lemonade Stand

Young Austin Bielski (age 9) of Orland Park is giving once again to children and teens fighting cancer. Austin recently held his second “Cups 4 Cancer” Lemonade Stand in front of the family home in Orland Park to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. At the end of the hot summer day more than 50 people stopped to quench their thirst and helped Austin’s lemonade stand raise $643.55 for the Treasure Chest Foundation, an Orland Park-based, non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing toys and gift cards in 55 hospitals nationwide.

Austin wanted to do something to help kids fighting cancer. He liked the idea of a lemonade stand and got to work creating a name. Austin said, “I like the sound of Cups 4 Cancer. This year we added fruit kabobs and sugar free lemonade too,” Austin proudly said.

Austin’s Mom Candice Bielski said, “Austin knew about the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation from his great-grandmother Dorothy Barron who for years has donated hand crocheted hats that she has made for the kids who benefit from the Foundation. “I wanted to make this lemonade stand an annual tradition because it’s such a great cause and it’s hard to watch these kids go through cancer treatment.”

“The POTCF is especially grateful to Austin for his enormous donation of $643.55,” said Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation. “There are so many kids impacted by childhood cancer today. Just look at what one little boy can do.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,300 young cancer patients in 55 cancer treatment centers 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 26th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2019.

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: Children and teens battling cancer will benefit from the overwhelming success of Austin Bielski’s second annual “Cups 4 Cancer” Lemonade Stand. Pictured (l-r) big brother Ethan (age 11) little brother Colin (age 6) Austin Bielski (age 9) and mom Candice present the $643.55 donation while visiting the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park facility.