Someone brought to my attention the Rocky Mountain News story of Ryan McLean, a 27 year-old high school teacher and swim coach who is paralyzed from the bottom of the rib cage down. On her web site, McLean says “Just recently, I was approved to travel to India to undergo stem cell treatment in hopes of regenerating some of my spinal nerves.” The treatment involves the use of stem cells. The school, fearing controversy, won’t allow fundraisers for the teacher.
So some of the students took matters into their own hands. The Rocky Mountain News, in an article Tuesday, Feb. 26, described the efforts of the swim team captain, Yasmin Moaven:
“The Cherry Creek senior is masterminding a lavish black-tie fundraiser at the El Jebel Temple in April and expects to sell 500 tickets at $100 each. She already has arranged for all the gala expenses to be donated or discounted.
“My total mentality is just getting the money so she can get there and get well, not because I support stem cells or I don’t,” Moaven said. “I don’t feel I’m doing something out of the ordinary – it just feels natural because I know she would do it for me.”
Whether you agree with stem-cell research or not, you have to be moved by the dedication these students show. They may not be “little” but they’re certainly doing a lot. Ryan’s blog says the fundraiser Yasmin and her friends organized in April was a huge success and raised $10,000. More fundraisers are happening all the time. The kids even started wearing t-shirts to school that say “Inspired by Ryan” and selling them for $12 each.
My husband is a high school teacher. I’d like to think that if we ever experienced this kind of tragedy, our community would come together to help us the way Cherry Creek has come together to help Ryan. More importantly, if friends or neighbors needed this kind of help, I’d like to think I’d go to these lengths to help them.
Tags: charity, Cherry Creek, fundraiser, philanthropy, Ryan McLean
