Christmas Comes Early for Children Fighting Cancer

Dyer Presbyterian Church in Indiana celebrated the spirit of giving by hosting a Christmas in July toy drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. Parishioners collected a van load of toys and $290 to help children and teens fighting cancer.

Dyer Presbyterian Church parishioner John Tennant said, "My wife and I saw a little boy in the hospital back in the 70’s and he didn’t receive anything to help distract him from the painful procedure. We heard about the Treasure Chest Foundation from a member of our church and we decided to host the Christmas in July toy drive to help children and teens fighting cancer."

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel said, "The Treasure Chest Foundation is extremely grateful to the Dyer Presbyterian Church parishioners for their support. Their tremendous support will help brave children and teens battling cancer."

The not-for-profit Treasure Chest Foundation now supports more than 9,300 children and teens each month who are diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 49 hospitals nationwide. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. CEO Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Colleen discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain. Martin recently celebrated his 23rd anniversary of remission from the disease earlier this year.

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.