Oak Forest Girl Makes Donation to Children Fighting Cancer

Lucy Tresch (age 6) of Oak Forest inspired by her mom Kimberly, decided to save her 27,000 prize tickets from Chuck E. Cheese and purchase toys to help kids fighting cancer. After the last ticket was cashed in, young Lucy hit the gift shop and donated more than 25 toys to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Chuck E. Cheese is the place where half a million happy birthdays are celebrated every year and Where A Kid Can Be A Kid every day. It is a Fun Center, that helps create positive, lifelong memories for families through fun, food, and play.

“Most little girls want the latest dolls but Lucy wanted to help kids fighting cancer,” said Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation. “I certainly appreciate Lucy’s generosity and the toys will benefit the young cancer patients we serve.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 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 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2022.

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.