Ryan is a bright, happy and intelligent boy with a love of Arsenal and his 'furever' friend Marshall. He is a typical young boy with a bubbly personality and boundless energy. On Tuesday 24 January 2017, the family received confirmation of Ryan’s diagnosis, a result that has shocked the whole family.

“Hearing such devastating news is completely heart-breaking. You plan your child’s future with hopes and dreams then it all comes crashing down”.

Immediately the family have set about to make a difference. Claire and Cieran are determined to make sure that Ryan grows up to fulfil his wishes and have launched Our fight for Ryan to raise awareness and vital funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

“Our aim is to raise £50,000 to enable MDUK to fund research from the world’s leading scientists who have the best chance of making a cure a reality, we have raised 98% of our target since setting up Ryan’s family fund”.

All of the funds raised will go towards the Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund – funding world class research, boosting clinical trial capacity in the UK and supporting the important campaigning activity that will ensure Ryan and others in the UK have access to emerging treatments.

“We all have so much love for Ryan, he’s our big boy and we can’t imagine our lives without him”

The family have such amazing support from friends, family, the local community and local business, they have held coffee mornings, fun days, Christmas parties, tribute nights, a fashion show, a coast to coast cycle challenge and two incredible black tie balls.

Funds raised will be split 80% for research in to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 20% for Ryan's future needs.