Charlotte Observer sports columnist Tom Sorensen gives us apeek at Ray Evernham the man. I remember years ago reading of Ray's young child needing medical treatment. Hard to believe that child is now 20 years old. We hear and read so much negative stuff about the "heros of the sport" that it is always nice to see the other side of the coin. I'm really glad Tom shared this.
A treasure that must be shared
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
Tom Sorensen
Tom Sorensen has been a columnist at The Observer for 20 years and has been at the paper for 25, writing about nearly every sport in the Carolinas.
When Ray J Evernham was 1, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
This was 19 years ago. Ray J's father, Ray Evernham, racing Ray Evernham, perhaps the greatest NASCAR crew chief of all time, wasn't famous then. He wasn't established. He was so new to Hendrick Motorsports, his insurance and benefits had yet to begin.
Evernham's then-wife, Mary was still living in New Jersey, where Evernham grew up. He had moved to Charlotte to try to further his racing career.
Ray J, who is now 20 and cancer free, was treated in New York at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center, and Mary and Evernham and other family members stayed walking distance from the hospital at the Ronald McDonald House.
Mary stayed three weeks. Evernham flew up probably 10 times.
"I don't know what we would have done without it," Evernham says Tuesday night over a burrito and a beer. "We didn't know New York, and we couldn't afford $200 or $250 a night for a hotel room."
Evernham can now, which is why on Tuesday, he and his wife, Erin, donated $1 million to the Ronald McDonald House on 1613 E. Morehead St. in Charlotte.
Ronald McDonald House gave Evernham and family more than shelter. They received support, encouragement and the realization that they weren't alone. Other families were going through their own terrifying experiences. Everybody provided a cheering section for everybody else.
Along with a check for Ronald McDonald House, Evernham and Erin threw a Halloween party and bought costumes and candy for the kids and staff.
Evernham doesn't strike me as terribly emotional, at least not publicly. But when he talks about his experience in New York, he pauses, and all the details come back.
I congratulate him for his donation, and tap his glass with mine.
Evernham doesn't want to make too much of it. All we have, he says, is time, talent and treasure. He says he has little time and less talent.
Treasure he has. But what good is it if you don't share? He wants to share.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/10/27/2725439/a-treasure-that-must-be-shared.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1bzBZ2KrS
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
