Peggy Fox of News Channel 9 and the Royal family listen as Eddie Royal delivers a speech at the 2008 MCCP Awards Celebration
Each year the Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) is proud to be able to enroll additional children in its program. Among our many success stories, we feel that this exceptional story is worth sharing:
After making his debut as a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, NFL rookie Eddie Royal has since become the toast of the town and an instant household name in Denver, CO. However, many do not know that this young man's victory is not just on the football field.
This success story began in 1987, when Pearl Royal moved to a single-family suburban home in Reston, Virginia, as a struggling single parent of seven children. Four of her children suffered from debilitating asthma, and Pearl had the daunting task of finding them appropriate medical care. Mrs. Royal heard of the Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP), and enrolled as one of the program's first families.
With his asthma now under control through regular medication and doctors' visits, one of Pearl's MCCP children, Eddie, began to play in youth football leagues. Later, as a student at Westfield High in Chantilly, he led his high school team to a state championship. Then, during Royal's senior year of high school, Virginia Tech Hokies' coach, Frank Beamer, visited the Royals' home to recruit him for the nationally renowned college football team.
Royal's performance as a wide receiver and kick returner during his college career at Virginia Tech impressed Broncos coaches. Upon graduating from college, Eddie was drafted in the Second Round, 42nd overall, by Denver.
So, one can only imagine the pride Pearl felt as she watched Monday Night Football and her son Eddie catching nine passes for 146 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in a 41-14 Broncos rout.
Royal's receiving yards were the most by any receiver on opening day in 2008, the most by a rookie in his NFL debut since 2003, and the sixth-best rookie debut performance since 1960.
In game two on September 14, as if he had planned an encore, Eddie caught the winning touchdown pass and 2-point conversion with 24 seconds left in a thrilling 39-38 Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers.
Recognizing the powerful influence her children's health care has had on their adult successes, Pearl Royal, Eddie's mother, says, "I can truly testify to the fact that the program works and it has been a blessing to my family...It has shown us that there are truly warm hearted people in the world...To those who make the contributions to the MCCP program, I say God bless you and thank you."