Orland Fire Protection District Helps Extinguish the Pain of Childhood Cancer Treatments

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) recently received more than a thousand toys to benefit children fighting cancer, thanks to the tireless work of the Orland Fire Protection District. The Orland Park-based non-profit Foundation provides comfort and distraction from painful treatments to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 48 hospitals nationwide.

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her appreciation, saying, “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful for this enormous donation. Thanks to the generosity of the Orland community and the hard work of the Orland Fire Protection District, thousands of children fighting cancer will continue to be rewarded with a toy or gift card for their bravery.”

Orland Fire Protection District Fire Inspector Patrick Collier said, “There is nothing greater than a smile on a child’s face.”

Ms. Betsy Dine, Public Education Coordinator for the Fire Protection District, also has personally witnessed the effects of childhood cancer treatments. “My sister-in-law’s nephew fought cancer for a year at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It makes it close to home. If bringing toys to children who are fighting cancer makes their day, then that makes it all worth it, to see real smiles on their faces.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 9,000 young cancer patients each month in 48 hospitals across 17 states. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She 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 21st anniversary of remission from the disease in 2014.

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.