Ryan, 30, has been fundraising for different charities since he was 20, baking cakes and creating homemade jams to sell to members of the public with the unwavering support of his Mum, sister, and loyal customers.
Ryan, who has Down Syndrome, has raised more than £80,000 for local, national, and international charities with Ryan’s Cookie Box, which will celebrate 10 years in April.
With his latest two-month baking marathon, Ryan is fundraising for ShelterBox by selling home bakes goodies from an honesty box outside his family home.
Ryan’s Mum Hazel Bogues says: “We try to support charities that Ryan understands. ShelterBox has such a clear and simple message and Ryan can really get the idea of how tents, lights, pans, and mattresses help in the event of major disasters.”
“Ryan really enjoys baking – and is a fine baker. He likes to see people enjoying his baking. I think it is fair to say that he sees this as his job, takes great pride in the fact that it is his and is very proud of what we bake. Most importantly, he sees his job as being to help people, and he doesn’t make a fuss about it.”
Having been first inspired by ShelterBox’s response to people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, it’s the third time Ryan has chosen to fundraise for the charity.
Every month, Ryan has a renewed sense of determination for his baking and fundraising. This year has been no different, despite losing power during Storm Eowyn.
Hazel adds: “During the recent storm our electricity was out for five days, and the house was very cold and dark. Now, we have not lost sight of the fact that for us this was an inconvenience, not a disaster, but one thing I would say is that while Ryan will pile on the extra jumpers and blankets with no fuss at all, he really hates the dark.
“What Ryan did have though, in the months that we are supporting ShelterBox, is a little solar powered light that they gave him during a visit to our house the first year he fundraised for them.
“It has stayed in his room ever since and still works beautifully. It really came into its own sitting beside Ryan’s bed and bringing the comfort of light into his room each night, helping him feel safe during the storm. It also gave us a reference point when we were talking about all that ShelterBox do.”
Ryan’s Cookie Box is a well-loved fixture in the community with generous customers coming from all over Northern Ireland to try Ryan’s bakes and donate to charity. Supporters also donate fruit, jam jars, and local eggs to support Ryan and Hazel with their cakes, jam, jellies, and chutneys.
As well as raising thousands of pounds for ShelterBox, Ryan regularly fundraises for Marie Curie, the ADSUM Foundation, Ballynahinch Food Bank, and The Downpatrick Steam Railway.
Hazel adds: “Ryan (all of us really), have made such good friends through Ryan’s Cookie Box. There is real pride in Ryan and his achievements – and this stretches all over the world through the magic of social media – some who follow for the baking and fundraising, and others who follow to see Ryan’s journey in it all.
“I hope we provide encouragement and hope for families who might be starting on their own journey of having a youngster with additional needs in the family. We are blessed.”
Community Fundraising Assistant at ShelterBox, John Stanbury says: “Like the extra toppings on their cookies, Ryan and Hazel’s empathy for others is extraordinary.
Together they have done so much for charity, including fundraising for those affected by conflict or disaster, and so it meant a lot to us to hear how the solar light provided Ryan with extra comfort through the storm and dark nights.
“Ryan and Hazel are a part of our ShelterBox family, just as everyone who buys a cookie or sees their work online feels a part of their family.”
Inspired by Ryan’s story? Check out our volunteer pages and get involved.
