The Dynamic Duo of Girlfriends Team Up to Help Kids with Cancer

For five years, without fail, Rita Parsons of Tinley Park and her girlfriend, Diane Ritchie of Mt. Greenwood, have been lending a helping hand at the warehouse of the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. The dynamic duo shows up like clockwork to help organize, label and prepare toys along with stuffing envelopes.

The pair both recognized the importance of their task, with Diane saying, “I retired so I thought this was a way to give back. I called my friend Rita and we have been coming back weekly ever since.” Rita chimed in by saying, “I had time as well. I am a teacher by trade and I love kids. God bless the kids served by the Treasure Chest Foundation. The children have the hard job, it’s the least I could do.”
Ms. Kisel showed her appreciation for the pair’s loyalty and hard work, saying, “Volunteers like Diane and Rita are the most important part of our Foundation. Without them we would never be able to provide smiles of joy to thousands of pediatric cancer patients every month. We are so grateful that Diane and Rita are willing to take time to be here every week. Their assistance has been unbelievable.”
Photo caption:
Rita Parsons pauses next to a stack of envelopes and Diane Ritchie prepares toys for shipping to young cancer patients on behalf of the Treasure Chest Foundation. Their volunteer efforts will bring smiles of comfort and joy to thousands of children and teens battling cancer across the nation.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,000 young cancer patients in 59 cancer treatment centers in 20 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 27th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2020.

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.