PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- "Next March I'll be turning 80.
I've been doing my research for 50 years and I don't plan to stop until I've
got all my children cured," proclaims Dr. Audrey Evans, founder of the
Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. When asked if she ever expected her
Philadelphia House to inspire a worldwide phenomenon with close to 240 Ronald
McDonald Houses in 26 countries around the world, she humbly states with a
twinkle in her eye, "It has become so much more than I ever expected."
Immediately upon meeting Dr. Evans, you can tell that this is not a woman
who readily takes no for an answer. And so it was in 1973, when she partnered
with the Philadelphia Eagles' General Manager, Jimmy Murray, to create a
program that would provide support and housing to families while they traveled
to Philadelphia to seek medical treatment for their children. Still active in
cancer research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), she is in
the lab daily during an active study. Dr. Evans' research involves testing
new compounds for the treatment of Neuroblastoma, a tumor of the sympathetic
system seen in children. These new agents are specifically designed to kill
the malignant cell without affecting the normal cell. A recent compound she
helped to develop is now in clinical trial.
On October 15th, 2004 The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House will
celebrate its 30th Anniversary with a black tie gala at the Park Hyatt
Philadelphia at the Bellevue. 600 people will attend to acknowledge the
memories and partners whose support and friendship have blessed this House for
three decades. All because Dr. Audrey Evans had a dream and the drive to make
it reality. If you ask her directly, "The dream is not over. I hope to see
two more Houses in Philadelphia - and we will find a cure." In attendance
will be partners like Jimmy Murray; Don Tuckerman and Stan Elkman of Elkman
Advertising; McDonald's restaurant owners; Eagles football player, Fred Hill,
whose 3-year-old daughter Kim was being treated for leukemia; John Canuso; and
hundreds of individual and corporate volunteers. Special honorees at the
celebration will be Karen and Herb Lotman.
Today, the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House (PRMH) serves 1,766 families
each year and is the model for almost 240 Ronald McDonald Houses in over 24
countries. In 1995, PRMH grew to include the US Healthcare Center at the
Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House and now has 44 rooms. PRMH has more than
250 dedicated volunteers who give over 35,000 hours each year in support of
this mission. Dr. Evans and Jimmy Murray still play an integral role in the
House and serve on the Board of Directors.
The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, the world's first, is celebrating
its 30th anniversary October 15, 2004. They have provided a "home-away-from-
home" for three decades to families with seriously ill children, who are being
treated at local medical facilities including: The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia, Wills Eye Hospital, Jefferson University Health System, Temple
University Health System and Shriners.
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