Sandy’s Dream

They call ovarian cancer the cancer that whispers. Known among the medical community as being difficult to detect and even harder to diagnose, it can go ignored and undetected. In 2005, the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Manayunk Development Corporation, and the owner of the famed Propper Brothers Furniture (now Propper View Apartments), Sam Kroungold, came together to dedicate a mural offering awareness and support to those afflicted with this deadly disease.

The 69 X 50 mural was the first wall painting work to raise cancer awareness in the United States. Created in collaboration by members of the Sandy Rollman Foundation, the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and the Manayunk Development Corporation, the mural was designed and painted by local artist Ann Northrup.

In 2015, all of the groups came together to rededicate the touching mural after it was restored following changes to the historic building that is now home to Propper View Apartments. Original artist Ann Northrup led the restoration efforts and worked with a team of assistants to restore and touch-up the Sandy’s Dream mural, as well as the sign atop the building. The rededication ceremony was marked by a moment of silence in memory of all women lost and in honor of all women still fighting.

The mural was the brainchild of the foundation’s founders — Robin Cohen and Adriana D’Alessandro, who created The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation as a tribute to D’Alessandro’s sister, Sandy Rollman, who passed away from advanced ovarian cancer at age 33. For Cohen, who served as Rollman’s oncology nurse, and D’Alessandro, the foundation keeps Sandy’s memory alive while raising support and community consciousness for this fatal cancer.