La Grange Teenager’s Tennis Fun Fest Benefits Kids with Cancer

For 11 consecutive years, La Grange teenager Crofton Kelly provided a generous helping hand to kids with cancer by organizing, implementing and coordinating a local tennis tournament designed to raise funds to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. Two years ago, Crofton Kelly laid down his racquet and passed along the job of implementing and coordinating the Tennis Fun Fest to his sister, Mattigan Kelly. This year Mattigan passed along the job to her brother Tiernan. All proceeds benefited the Orland Park-based non-profit organization which provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 58 hospitals nationwide.

The hardworking teenager's 14th Annual Tennis Fun Fest recently drew participation by more than 125 children and some professionals at the Hinsdale Racquet Club. The popular event featured round robin matches, fun-drills, raffles, refreshments and prizes and ultimately raised $10,157 to benefit children fighting cancer. Overall, Crofton, Mattigan and Tiernan’s amazing efforts have netted more than $82,807 over the course of the fundraising event's existence.

“Tiernan’s enormous gift, as always, is especially appreciated,” said Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel. “The annual fundraising efforts will again help make it possible for hundreds of young children and teens battling cancer to receive toys and gift cards. I am so impressed when I think about what this one caring teenager has achieved.”

Alison Kelly, Tiernan’s Mom, was also pleased with the amazing turnout and response from the Tennis Fun Fest participants, saying, “I am so proud of Tiernan for his commitment and so proud of the community for stepping up and doing good work!”

Tiernan described his reasons for helping the Treasure Chest Foundation and young cancer patients by saying, “I really wanted to help because I realize I have a great life and other people have more challenges. I can help the kids because I can draw in a big crowd and raise a ton of money!”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,000 young cancer patients in 58 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 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.