October 15 will mark the 50th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Charites, which now has more than 375 houses around the world.

While the first Ronald McDonald House opened on Spruce Street in Philadelphia in 1974, the story of how it came together started five years prior.

In 1969, Eagles tight end Fred Hill came home from a game against the Detroit Lions after injuring his knee and needing to be put in a full leg cast, but his injured leg quickly became the last thing on his mind that day.

The news he received once he arrived at his home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey was something he never could have expected – it would change thousands of lives forever.

Hill's wife, Fran, revealed the news that their daughter, Kim, was in the hospital. The following day, they found out she was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia at the age of 3.

At the time, Kim was given just months to live.

"It was really hard, so I kind of just forgot about football," Fred said. "We started chemotherapy at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and they just left her on chemotherapy every single day for three and a half years because they didn't want to take her off because the kids were all dying, but she went right into remission."

Hill's wife stayed with their daughter for the entire time as she didn't want to leave her side, with Hill coming in whenever he could due to football.

As Hill began to think about his career, the team showed its support for him and his family no matter if he still played or not.

"When Leonard Tose (Eagles owner,1969-85) took over the team, he called me into his office and he really felt bad, because Kim used to come to Training Camp at Albright College, so the ball players knew her and everything," Hill said. "She was kind of the catalyst or inspiration for what took place later on, because everybody could relate to this cute little 3-year-old that wasn't supposed to make it."

What took place later on is the creation of the Ronald McDonald House – a place for families to stay while their children with cancer receive treatment at a nearby hospital.

In 1971, Hill ultimately decided to retire from football to take care of Kim as she underwent treatment, but the support from the Eagles didn't change.

In 1972, Hill and his former teammates and their wives held a fashion show at a restaurant in Cherry Hill, New Jersey with the benefits going to the Leukemia Society of America. The event raised $10,000 and when Tose arrived with the team and found out the amount, he wanted to see Hill raise 10 times the amount, offering to help in any way he could.

Then-Eagles General Manager and Co-Founder of the Ronald McDonald House Jimmy Murray and Hill went to tell Kim's doctor about the money they were raising and how they could use it, but Dr. Lawrence Namain told them that Dr. Audrey Evans, the head of oncology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, needed the money more. Dr. Evans came back to them with a list of needs, which turned into something even bigger.

"She (Dr. Evans) filled out this list that she wanted to finish off the hematology wings and she had a bunch of other things, but on it she had a house. We had people coming from 100 miles away and there's no place for them to stay. They have to stay at a hotel, it's very expensive, and we need a little house by the hospital where the parents can stay," Hill explained.

Murray went to McDonald's asking them to donate 25 cents of every Shamrock Shake they sold around St. Patrick’s Day. McDonald's had an even bigger idea – donate all of the money if they could name it the Ronald McDonald House.

The first house was bought for $42,000 and had seven bedrooms.

"I consider it a miracle, but I really knew the power of sports for good," Murray said. "A lot of kids came from all over the world because Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was such a great entity. It became the McMiracle, because now they're all over the world. These houses became one of the greatest stories of all time – really, the spiritual Super Bowl."

Now, there are houses everywhere, including in Orange County, California, where Hill resides today as a member of the board for the Ronald McDonald House there.

"I've been able to experience the loving people that volunteer all over the world. I've been to probably over 100 Ronald McDonald Houses, and the people that volunteer bring in and prepare meals, help clean the place, drive to hospitals, they have hundreds of volunteers – that's why these things can run because you wouldn't be able to afford it all," Hill said.

"It doesn't matter what country or where it is, they're the nicest people in the world, and they just give their time, their money, and all they want to do is help another person, so it gives you such a good feeling."

50 years later, McDonald's locations still have collection boxes for donations to the organization and the Eagles still remain a big part of the program. The tradition of the Shamrock Shake donations also continues for a week in March as Philadelphia-area McDonald's donate a portion of the proceeds from the shakes to the Ronald McDonald House.

Local McDonald's owners/operators across Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, and Northern Delaware have partnered with the Philadelphia Eagles to commemorate their historic role in helping to build the first Ronald McDonald House 50 years ago. Through their partnership, McDonald's is offering a series of three collectible magnets, free with a purchase of the Eagles Bundle, at more than 250 McDonald's restaurants in the Philadelphia area. Proceeds from the sale of each Eagles Bundle Box will be donated to the local Ronald McDonald Houses in celebration of the anniversary.

"For 50 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities has given back to the community by helping families get through their most difficult times. The local McDonald's owners across greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, and Northern Delaware are proud to support their efforts and honored to join the Philadelphia Eagles in celebrating RMHC's legacy," said Manish Shah, President of McDonald's Phil-Ad-Mac and McDonald's Owner/Operator. "My fellow Owner/Operators and I find enormous pride in supporting our four local RMHC Chapters by donating proceeds from every Eagles Bundle Box sold at our restaurants to the houses in the area it all began five decades ago."

And while the houses have spread for such a great cause, Philadelphia will always be the home where it all began.

"People love the Eagles so much, it penetrates every level of society. It really tells the same story as Philadelphia. Philadelphia embraces strangers who become part of the city," Murray said. "I think it's the ultimate graduation. Over the years, as they have increased their intensity of helping kids on defense, kids get cured. And now with these houses, people come from literally all over the world, so you're seeing the miracle being passed along."

Kim Hill passed away in 2011 at the age of 44 after a hard-fought battle in which she well exceeded the original timeline she was given at just 3 years old. Her story lives on today through the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"It changed their life, and it changed mine," Murray said. "The big thing is, it's the perfect marriage. It shows the power of sports for good and taking an idea and sharing it. Life is just like a team, we're all in a team sport and teams can get together and literally change people's lives. Just seeing the way God took these tragic, tough stories and turning them into big miracles, I never get used to it."

Hill shared his daughter Kim's message, showing a glimpse of the perspective she had on life and how she understood how special the programs are.

"Kim said, 'I didn't enjoy being sick, but in a way, I'm kind of glad I did get sick, because through all my suffering, a great thing has come from it.'" Hill recalled.

As the 50-year milestone commemorates such an amazing cause, Hill knows that the work is not done yet, and Ronald McDonald Houses are needed all over the world.

"It's turned out to be a great thing, and it's going to keep growing," Hill said. "There will someday be 500 of them, so I really believe that. It's just a great thing, so we'll see what happens." – Written by Liam Wichser