Students with Servants Hearts Club Helps Children Fighting Cancer

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded a van load of toys thanks to the tireless work of the Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights, Students with Servants Hearts Club. Kelsie O’Neill Co-Leader of the service club said, “Our goal is to serve the community in meaningful ways and to reach out to charities in need. The Treasure Chest Foundation is a perfect opportunity to help bring awareness to childhood cancer, as well as a way to give back.”

The mission of the Chicago Christian High School is to be a Christ-centered learning community intent on restoring God’s world.

Ms. Kisel showed her appreciation for the students, “Clubs like the Students with Servants Hearts are the lifeblood of our foundation, without the student's help we would never be able to provide smiles of joy to thousands of young cancer patients every month.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,800 young cancer patients in 63 cancer treatment centers in 21 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. 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 28th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.