Arlington Virginia Girl Donates to Kids Fighting Cancer

The family and friends of Sydney Ganzer are giving to children fighting cancer. Sydney, (age 12) of Arlington, Virginia asked her friends and family to donate toys and money to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. When the last gift arrived Sydney raised $1,441 and a van full of toys for children fighting cancer. The toys will be hand-delivered to Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., a local Children’s Cancer Treatment Center served by the Treasure Chest Foundation.

When asked why she wanted to help the Treasure Chest Foundation and young cancer patients Sydney’s response was, “When my mom was sick with cancer a few years ago, it made me think about how difficult it would be for a child to go through the same thing. I wanted to help, and I've been so lucky to have generous friends and family to help me contribute to this great organization. Sydney’s mom Jessica Ganzer said, “For Sydney's Bat Mitzvah she chose the Treasure Chest Foundation as her Mitzvah Project. The project is a meaningful way to incorporate important lessons, such as repairing the world and showing compassion for others. Sydney is always thinking about others’ experiences and knowing that she might be able to bring a little bit of joy to a really difficult situation really motivated her.’

Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation said, “I certainly appreciate Sydney’s generosity and we are grateful she chose the Treasure Chest Foundation as her Mitzvah Project.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 15,300 young cancer patients in 64 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 2021.

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.