Mokena Resident Hosts Holiday Toy Drive in Memory of Niece

Mokena resident Mike Doria hosted a creative holiday toy drive Christmas party with the goal of helping children and teens fighting cancer in memory of his niece Kendra. Kendra battled cancer for over ten years of her young life. Mike asked attendees to bring a new toy to his party with the goal of helping children battling cancer. After the last toy was dropped off more than 100 toys was donated and delivered to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation warehouse in Orland Park. Mike wanted to do something in memory of his niece. He has been donating toys in her name for more than 15 years.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,300 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 in March.

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.