Durbins of Evergreen Park Cares for Kids Fighting Cancer

Thirty-seven years ago, Jennifer Vancura was diagnosed with liver cancer at the age of one. Thirty-eight years later, Jennifer’s mom Nancy Meyer, the Manager of Durbins in Evergreen Park, continues to give back to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation by hosting an annual Durbins Cares event. Even though Jennifer never benefitted from the Treasure Chest Foundation’s services, Nancy remembers the pain of having a child battle cancer for many years and wants to help others.

Durbins of Evergreen Park sponsored it’s eighth annual Durbins Cares event on Saturday, October 20th, which included free pizza, beef sandwiches, cheese sticks, sweets, entertainment compliments of Tony Christakos, a split-the-pot raffle and more than 50 raffle baskets that raised more than $3,421 for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF). During the past eight years the Durbins Cares event has raised an impressive $27,661 to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Established in 1987 by the McAuliffe family, Durbins is a family-run restaurant and bar and was voted as having Chicagoland’s Best Pizza. Durbins Manager Nancy Meyer said, “Cancer hit my family, my daughter Jennifer was diagnosed with cancer at the age of one and every year I lose more and more people to cancer. Durbins cares and I care, I love helping out and when cancer hits someone really close, you want to get involved with organizations like the Treasure Chest Foundation that help kids with cancer.”

The mission of the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation is to provide toys to kids undergoing cancer treatments and medical procedures. Currently the Foundation supports over 13,300 kids each month in 54 hospitals and cancer treatment centers in the United States, including every pediatric treatment center in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin! Because each cancer patient typically visits the clinic multiple times per month, the Foundation’s services actually supports young cancer patients upwards of 20,000 times a month.

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 captions:

Durbins Manager and event Chairwoman Nancy Meyer, at the Evergreen Park location, displays the donation of $3,421 which will benefit brave young cancer patients nationwide.