Green Oaks girl donates birthday presents to kids fighting cancer
The family and friends of Payton Howard are giving to children fighting cancer.
Seven-year-old Payton of Green Oaks decided to ask friends to bring toys to her birthday party, which was hosted at Michaels arts and craft store. When the party was over, Payton accumulated more than 50 toys to donate to The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.
"I don't need any more toys so I wanted to give my toys to kids with cancer," Payton said.
Payton's mom, Liz Howard, said, "This is one of those proud mom moments."
"Hosting a toy drive to benefit children fighting cancer is such a wonderful idea. A special thanks to Payton Howard and all of Payton's friends. They are a true inspiration," said Colleen Kisel, founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation.
The POTCF is a nonprofit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift certificate in 48 hospitals nationwide.
Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then 7-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain.
She noted 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 21st anniversary of remission from the disease earlier this year.
For details about the Treasure Chest Foundation, contact Kisel at (708) 687-8697 or visit www.treasurechest.org.
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