About Ryan Anderson

Ryan's mum and dad are Dean and Sam and his older sister is Sophie who is 12 years old. Ryan was a very loving little boy with a beautiful, cheeky smile. He was also strong minded and knew how to get what he wanted! His most favourite things to do were playing with his toy cars and throwing his dummies around the room - or at his family! He loved Mickey Mouse. Ryan also loved animals, particularly dogs, cats and fish and often stood at the window to look at the birds.

Their favourite memory as a family was when they took Ryan to Blackpool and he went swimming for the first time. He was that overwhelmed by the experience he ended up falling asleep in the pool! Another favourite memory of Ryan was when he used to dance to the music played by his toy car, shaking his bum with one hand waving in the air! He was an extremely unique little boy too. When he was first born, he donated his umbilical cord to save someone's life who had cancer.

As a young family, Dean and Sam have been through what's every parent's worst nightmare. Their beautiful little boy became very poorly at the age of 18 months old. After daily tests and MRI scans, doctors informed Ryan's parents that he had a tumour on his brain. Further invasive tests over a traumatic period of 2 months revealed that baby Ryan had a very rare leukaemia on the brain. Despite beginning chemotherapy treatment, he passed away on 31st July 2017 at the age of 21 months old with his parents by his side.

During Ryan's illness and time in hospital, his family faced additional financial pressures when his mum, Sam, lost her job. They struggled financially and finding the money to eat, as well as nearly losing their home. Ryan's funeral was partly funded by a charity that pays for funeral costs when a child passes away from cancer. This enabled Dean and Sam to ensure Ryan had the memorial service that they wanted to give him.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ryan was treated and cared for at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. His family stayed in one of the Houses provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities. There are 14 houses across the UK which provide 'home away from home' accommodation to families with a child in hospital. They help alleviate some of the financial and emotional burdens they can face. Each House has en-suite bedrooms with a telephone which links directly to the wards so the hospital can get in touch with them easily.

Families have access to communal kitchens so they can cook proper homemade meals together and maintain some degree of normal family life. They can stay as long as they need – days, weeks, months and even years. In 2017, more than 50% of the 8,000 families the charity supports had to travel over 20 miles to visit their child in hospital. Imagine having to face that every day when you are already physically and emotionally exhausted. Ronald McDonald House Charities gives them a warm and welcoming place to rest their heads and be close to their child during the toughest time in their lives.

Our target

Ryan's family want to raise money to help other parents who are faced with living in a hospital to be by their poorly child's side.

Our target is to raise £5000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities by November 2018.

How your money will help Ronald McDonald House Charities

If we can reach this goal, then we achieve two very important things:

Goal 1

It costs £25.00 to provide one night's accommodation to a family in a Ronald McDonald House. The money we raise will keep many families in safe and comfortable accommodation for 200 nights, allowing them to rest, sleep and eat right across the corridor from their sick child.

Goal 2

By donating this amount of money to the Charity, a room at the Manchester House where Ryan’s family stayed will be sponsored with a plaque in his name, enabling his family to keep his memory alive.

A personal message from Dean, Sam and Sophie