They knew it was the Ry-gh thing to do.
A famously exclusive society for people named Ryan sprang into action after learning that a baby with the same name needed money for a life-changing operation.
In just under an hour, the nationwide viral group Ryan Meetup — which made a big regional splash in Brooklyn last year — met its fundraising goals for two-month-old Ryan, a Kenyan boy suffering from the severe neurological issue of hydrocephalus. .
It all started when 50-year-old Ryan Ressler of Leawood, Kansas was notified earlier this month of the child’s condition, which causes developmental problems from excess brain fluid. He learned about it through the crowdfunding program Watsi, to which Ressler is a regular contributor.
The site detailed that baby Ryan’s condition would cause him to “experience severe physical and developmental delays” if not for an operation that would “greatly improve his quality of life”.
“With the right treatment, Ryan will hopefully develop into a strong and healthy young man,” the fundraising page read.
Due to the attention required for Ryan’s condition, his single mother cannot work and their family relies on the baby’s grandfather, who loads sand onto trucks for a living.
Ressler, a creative director and avid “enthusiast” of the Ryan site, said that when Watsi emailed him that this baby needed the public’s help, he knew what had to be done.
“I sent an email to Ryan’s meeting — ‘hey, here’s a little Ryan who needs our help,'” Ressler told The Post, wasting no time sharing the memo after receiving the shocking plea on Monday.
“If every Ryan pitches in, we can make a big difference for this little Ryan. And prove once again why this community is so special,” read Tuesday’s Instagram post.
In less than 60 minutes — though Ressler thinks closer to 45 — Ryans from coast to coast came together to contribute the remaining $559 of the $719 total needed to change the course of the little tic’s life.
“Watsi got back to me and said we were wondering where their donations were coming from so quickly,” Ressler said.
The website even told him it was one of their fastest completed fundraisers.
“It took a few emails and someone around the world is now benefiting from everyone coming together.”
Meanwhile, the Ryans of the world rejoice to see their page happy and lucky to be responsible for something so meaningful.
“All it took was an hour and Ryan took care of Ryan,” a Ryan commented on the post.
“This is why I love being Ryan,” another gleefully added in another photo sharing the good news.
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Image Source : nypost.com