Helping Hands of Cape Coral Collect Gifts for Teens Fighting Cancer

When the Helping Hands of Cape Coral learned the Treasure Chest Foundation opened its 64th Treasure Chest program at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, it was all hands on deck for the teens undergoing treatment for cancer.

On Thursday, May 5th, the Helping Hands of Cape Coral delivered 30 gift bags full of enticing items for both teen girls and boys served by the Treasure Chest Foundation.

Chairwoman Donna B. said. “It was a great day. To see the joy and appreciation was amazing. I am so glad we have connected. We look forward to providing more hugs in a bag.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 15,300 young cancer patients in 64 cancer treatment centers in 21 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 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.