Students Help Teen With Terminal Cancer Realize Wish
Ryan Davidson Wanted To Raise $15,000 For Relay For Life
Posted: 11:17 am CST January 10, 2009
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Friends, family and strangers are helping a Sun Prairie 15-year-old with terminal cancer realize his last request.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportWISC-TV first met Ryan Davidson four months ago. The teen was recovering then from his fourth surgery from brain cancer. But with his health continuing to deteriorate, local students pitched in to help Ryan with his wish.When Ryan recently found out the brain cancer he's battled most of his life is now terminal, his one wish was to raise $15,000 for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.At Prairie View Middle School Friday, just about everyone participated in a special "Hat Day" to help raise money for Ryan's cause. Students put $1 in a jar and were allowed to wear a hat during school."Everyone was there with all their hats. There were kids walking around everywhere, trying to donate as much as they can," said Lexi Greytak, a student at Prairie View Middle School."It was when we learned that his goal was to reach $15,000, then it was like, 'We want to do what we can to help,'" said Rainey Briggs, a former physical education teacher of Ryan's.Briggs said he remembers Ryan as the student who never gave up in class."You know, there were times when he got upset with himself because he wanted to do more," said Briggs, "It touched me because I wanted him to do more, because he wanted to do more."And it's why Prairie View's student council made sure that all $3,500 raised from "Hat Day" went toward Ryan's wish."I was supposed to be working the tables and I just saw all the people, and it was like almost all the kids in the school just trying to help," said student Ryan Newquist."It felt pretty good when I gave the dollar to the teacher and got my hand stamped," said student Blake Grenick. "And then seeing that jar full of money felt pretty good.""It kind of shows that we can do something," said student KaiLi Freeman. "Some people think that maybe we can't, but we can."The students' donations have helped Ryan meet and exceed his $15,000 goal. He has now raised nearly $23,000 for Relay For Life.Those interested in donating to Davidson's cause can get more information at this Web site.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportWISC-TV first met Ryan Davidson four months ago. The teen was recovering then from his fourth surgery from brain cancer. But with his health continuing to deteriorate, local students pitched in to help Ryan with his wish.When Ryan recently found out the brain cancer he's battled most of his life is now terminal, his one wish was to raise $15,000 for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.At Prairie View Middle School Friday, just about everyone participated in a special "Hat Day" to help raise money for Ryan's cause. Students put $1 in a jar and were allowed to wear a hat during school."Everyone was there with all their hats. There were kids walking around everywhere, trying to donate as much as they can," said Lexi Greytak, a student at Prairie View Middle School."It was when we learned that his goal was to reach $15,000, then it was like, 'We want to do what we can to help,'" said Rainey Briggs, a former physical education teacher of Ryan's.Briggs said he remembers Ryan as the student who never gave up in class."You know, there were times when he got upset with himself because he wanted to do more," said Briggs, "It touched me because I wanted him to do more, because he wanted to do more."And it's why Prairie View's student council made sure that all $3,500 raised from "Hat Day" went toward Ryan's wish."I was supposed to be working the tables and I just saw all the people, and it was like almost all the kids in the school just trying to help," said student Ryan Newquist."It felt pretty good when I gave the dollar to the teacher and got my hand stamped," said student Blake Grenick. "And then seeing that jar full of money felt pretty good.""It kind of shows that we can do something," said student KaiLi Freeman. "Some people think that maybe we can't, but we can."The students' donations have helped Ryan meet and exceed his $15,000 goal. He has now raised nearly $23,000 for Relay For Life.Those interested in donating to Davidson's cause can get more information at this Web site. Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
