Lakewood Boy Serves as Honorary Chairperson

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation recently hosted its Ninth Annual Treasuring Our Kids “Superhero” Fundraiser. The mission of the Orland Park-based non-profit organization is to provide comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children who have been diagnosed with cancer by providing gifts from a treasure chest.

The nearly 250 people gathered at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park on April 7th witnessed a remarkable evening that included a delicious plate dinner and musical entertainment along with chances to win exciting prizes through silent, live auctions and raffles. The final tally showed the “Superhero” event raised more than $55,000 to benefit childhood cancer patients.

The Honorary Chairperson for the Ninth Annual Treasuring Our Kids event was three-year-old Lakewood resident Hudson Younge. Although his story is similar to hundreds taking place every day throughout the nation, Hudson’s mother Shelby and father Bryan, quickly learned in April 2017, just days after his third birthday, about the severe impact of a diagnosis of childhood cancer, as well as the positive effects whenever brave young Hudson visits the Treasure Chest throughout his ongoing cancer treatments. Today, nearly a year after his initial diagnosis, Hudson continues to undergo monthly chemo treatments.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,000 young cancer patients enduring 20,000 clinic visits each month in 19 states across the nation. 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 25th 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.

Photo caption (l-r): Ninth Annual Treasuring Our Kids “Superhero” Honorary Chair family and Lakewood residents dad Bryan Younge, sister Avery, Honorary Chairperson Hudson, brother Evan, brother Braedon and mom Shelby at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park.