An 11-year-old schoolboy from Texas has given away hundreds of his own toys, Pokémon cards and hand-painted rocks over six years. He has raised more than $20,000 for children born with heart defects. Data released by the American Heart Association confirms that Ryan’s yearly toy sales have raised more than $20,000 (£15,800) for the charity’s medical research, public education and health advocacy campaigns. Over six years, he has sold about 700 Pokémon cards from his own collection.
Ryan Ragsdale is a fifth-grade pupil at Lorena Elementary School. He first joined the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge at age five, when he was in kindergarten. He came home wanting to help “kids with holes in their hearts. He worked out a plan with his mother to sell his own childhood things instead of just asking neighbours for cash. Every February, Ryan clears out his bedroom to find items to list for local buyers. He has also sold a Thomas the Tank Engine train set and a Jurassic Park-era Tyrannosaurus Rex toy that he had kept since he was three years old.
Lorena Elementary School plans to honour Ryan’s efforts at a special school assembly on 27 March, according to the American Heart Association. Because he knows the money is going to kids who need it, “He does it.
He said his favourite part of each sale is counting up the final cash total with his mother at the end. “I feel really proud and excited that I’m making a difference,” Ryan told the American Heart Association. His mother said Ryan sets a higher target for himself every year. “Every year, he sets a higher goal than the year before,” Sarah Ragsdale-Kline said. “I like debating with people about what I think the correct answer would be,” Ryan said. “He keeps us on our toes,” Sarah Ragsdale-Kline said. Money raised through the nationwide school program pays for scientific research into congenital heart defects, according to the organisation.
The idea for the yearly sale began when Ryan asked his mother, Sarah Ragsdale-Kline, how he could make a bigger difference through his school’s fundraising drive. Ryan looked back on his six years of fundraising. He clearly understands where the money goes. Outside of his charity work, Ryan already has his sights set on a career in law. “I can go on and on about why I was right. His mother added that his debate skills are already well known at home. “But truly, it’s an honor to be his mom. The amazing things he does and the heart behind it all inspire us every year. The Kids Heart Challenge is a service-learning program run by the American Heart Association in primary and secondary schools across the United States. It also funds community health programmes. It teaches pupils life-saving skills, such as Hands-Only CPR and healthy eating habits. Schools that take part, such as Lorena Elementary, also get financial give-backs and equipment credits based on the total money their pupils raise. This helps physical education departments buy new sports and fitness gear. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.