Toys for Tyler’s Community Birthday Party Benefits Children

The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Women’s Club in La Grange gave to children and teens fighting cancer by hosting a party titled “Toys for Tyler’s Community Birthday Party.” The event was held in memory of Tyler Duelm, a childhood cancer patient who lost his battle and who is continually remembered in the LaGrange community for courage in the face of tremendous adversity. This is the 13th year the community has come together for this event.

When the Community Birthday Party was over, more than 1,000 toys, $495 in gift cards and $602 had been collected for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), the organization that supported Tyler Duelm during his radiation treatment in 2006. Since its inception this popular event has raised more than $11,100 and 1000’s of toys for children and teens fighting cancer.

The mission of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Women’s Club is to welcome new women into the parish, provide spiritual and social activities for members, encourage participation in parish life and promote charitable and humanitarian projects on behalf of the parish. Cathy Murphy, President of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Women’s Club said, “The Catholic Women’s Club is happy to chair this event as a wonderful tribute to Tyler Duelm. It’s become a beloved annual tradition and continues to receive enthusiastic support from the families and youth of the parish on behalf of a very special cause.”

Tyler’s mother, Laura Duelm said, “Our family is very pleased to continue to support the wonderful work that the Treasure Chest does. We are honored that the generous community of St. Francis Xavier parish collected so many toys, gift cards and cash donations in memory of our sweet little Tyler’s birthday.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “I feel blessed to have the support of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Women’s Club. I feel sad when I think about the pain the Duelm family has had to endure. They have continued to support the Treasure Chest Foundation in memory of their beloved son Tyler for more than thirteen years, and for that we are so grateful.”

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 26th 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.