A Luncheon of a Lifetime

Lou Antosh

A Cinnaminson NJ kidney patient and three young brothers from Hatfield , Pennsylvania -- all rabid Philadelphia Eagles fans – had the lunch of a lifetime on Friday May 6, 2005, when they broke bread with Eagles Offensive lineman Jon Runyan.

The private 1 p.m. luncheon with the affable Runyan, at Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill , NJ , was a silent auction prize at a November event for the NephCure Foundation, a non-profit organization raising funds to find the cause of and cure for a kidney disease called FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis).

The disease has been scarring the kidneys of Christine Antosh, 21, of Cinnaminson who has endured years of treatments with immunosuppressant and chemotherapy drugs.

“I can hardly believe that Jon Runyan was kind enough to do this for us,” said Ms. Antosh, “And the best part is, the Scott boys will be sharing the lunch. They’ve been sky high about this for months.”

Winner of the raffle was John Scott, who has raised his three sons with an Eagles passion surpassed by none. His oldest son, John, 12, a walking encyclopedia of Eagles’ statistics, talks Eagles constantly with his brothers, Bobby, 9, and Ryan, 5.

Runyan, the six-foot, seven-inch right tackle instrumental in the Eagles success last season, is well-known for his charity efforts and learned about NephCure from a friend who is a former neighbor of Christine Antosh. The luncheon was sponsored by Mr. Aldo Lamberti at his restaurant.

NephCure is the only organization devoted exclusively to fighting FSGS, a disease that scars the filters of the kidney and often leads to their destruction, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. NBA star Alonzo Mourning, who underwent a transplant after suffering with FSGS, is an ambassador for NephCure, along with former New York Mets catcher Ed Hearn.