This is Ryan's Story
Ryan Kim and his family are part of our Parish community.
Ryan has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which is a progressive life limiting disease. Ryan was diagnosed at age four and is now ten years of age. Ryan is becoming increasingly weak and reliant on his electric wheelchair. He will eventually be unable to walk at all.
Ryan has been forced to leave his electric wheelchair at school as the wheelchair will not fit into the current family car. This a significant impost on his family and severely limits Ryan's independence and quality of life.
Ryan is a beautiful soul with wonderful family support. He and his family ask for nothing.
A community group has come together to raise funds to allow the family to obtain a small minivan which will be able to transport the family and Ryan's electric wheelchair together. At this critical stage with Ryan's illness, the ability to be able to transport his electric wheelchair and the complete family will make an enormous difference to the family and to Ryan's independence.
Although the "wheels" project has now been completed, you may still donate funds to "Wheels for Ryan" via the My Cause button below.
Wheels for Ryan
Background document: The telling of Ryan's story (PDF 183.2KB)
Minivan Purchase
25 November 2020: The Wheels For Ryan project has now purchased a new car which will become the Kim family's new disability vehicle.
In just over four months, an incredible response to the Wheels For Ryan campaign has been able to answer Ryan's prayers for his freedom for Christmas. Although the My Cause page has not achieved its goal of $40,000, the overall project goal has been met. The campaign has been able to raise over $75,000 thanks to all of our fundraising activities and a very special grant from the Lions Club of Australia and Zone 13 Lions Club North Shore who provided the funds to complete the purchase of the vehicle so quickly.
These months of fundraising have brought the community together in a beautiful display of friendship, compassion and empathy. We have been able to raise the awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and we proved that we (each and every one of us) can together make a difference in another family's life for the better. A difference that the Kim family will never forget. We showed Ryan that he has the ability to bring people together from all walks of life and inspire us to be our best. In a year of worldwide tragedy and hardships, compassion has triumphed in our beautiful community of Wheels For Ryan supporters.
Ryan's vehicle is now on its way to have its disability conversion completed. The goal is to have it ready for Ryan to use by 14 December. Hopefully, he will finish off this 2020 school year driving to and from school in his electric wheelchair, in his new vehicle.
Any additional funds that have been or are raised under the Wheels For Ryan donation page will now be allocated towards Ryan's additional needs and his housing costs. Unfortunately for Ryan, his struggles continue but for now - he has a very large smile on his face knowing that a new car is on its way.
Thank you and blessings to everyone for all of your support.
Wheels For Ryan Fundraising Team and The Kim Family
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Across the world, one in 3,500 newborn boys is affected by this rare disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Perhaps a small group, but these patients around the globe think big and have big dreams. Duchenne parents have support organisations in many countries, all of them work day by day to guarantee access to care, to improve research, and to educate patients and their families.
Background information on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
For additional information please make contact with the Parish office.