Orland Park Boy Hosts “Cups 4 Cancer” Lemonade Stand

Young Austin Bielski (age 8) of Orland Park is giving to children and teens fighting cancer. Austin recently held a “Cups 4 Cancer” Lemonade Stand in front of the family home in Orland Park to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. At the end of the hot summer day more than 50 people stopped to quench their thirst and helped Austin’s lemonade stand raise $110 for the Treasure Chest Foundation, an Orland Park-based, non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing toys and gift cards in 52 hospitals nationwide.

Austin wanted to do something to help kids fighting cancer. He liked the idea of a lemonade stand and got to work creating a name for his new endeavor. Austin said, “I like the sound of Cups 4 Cancer, it rhymes!”

Austin’s Mom Candice Bielski said, “Austin knew about the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation from his great-grandmother Dorothy Barron who for years has donated hand crocheted hats that she has made for the kids who benefit from the Foundation.”

“The POTCF is especially grateful to Austin for his enormous donation of $110,” said Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation. There are so many kids impacted by childhood cancer today. Just look at what one little boy can do.”

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 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.

Photo caption: Children and teens battling cancer will benefit from the overwhelming success of Austin Bielski’s “Cups 4 Cancer” Lemonade Stand. Pictured (l-r) Austin Bielski (age 8), little brother Colin (age 5) and big brother Ethan (age 10) present the $110 donation while visiting the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park facility.