As Newfane 1st-grader faces challenge, Wilson students step up
By most accounts, Ryan Kruzicke is like any other 5-year-old.
Ryan likes video games, and he attends Newfane Elementary School, where his favorite subject is math.
But he hasn’t been able to make it to school every day; he’s undergoing treatment for a rare brain cancer called an optic glioma.
His parents, Steve Kruzicke and Tammy Mills, have taken time off from work to care for him, and now they are getting some unexpected help.
Having heard about Ryan’s story, officials in a neighboring district decided to pitch in. Teachers at W. H. Stevenson and Thomas Marks elementary schools in the Wilson district put collection jars for the students in their classrooms.
They also hosted staff dress-down days to raise money for the Newfane first-grader.
Monday, Stevenson Principal Michael Cancilla and Marks Principal John Diodate surprised Ryan’s family with a $350 check.
“They just called me up and said they decided they’d like to help out,” said Newfane Elementary Principal Kathleen Nagle.
“It’s really special. Wilson and Newfane are neighbors. When we’re talking about helping others, those district boundaries don’t exist.”
Wilson students also sent their good wishes to Ryan on giant cards made at both of the elementary schools.
“Whether it was students, teachers or parents coming into the building, a little bit of everybody from the community got involved,” Cancilla said.
Ryan was treated for the cancer when he was 1 and stayed in remission until August of last year, when he was rediagnosed.
Newfane hosted its own fundraisers for Ryan last month, with the help of Rainbow of Help, a Niagara County-based volunteer group that provides financial help to those with medical problems. All the attention isn’t getting to Ryan, though.
“[Being sick] hasn’t seemed to stop him at all,“ said Christine Hannam, PTA president at W. H. Stevenson, who helped raise donations.
“When we met Monday, he was just anxious to get back to class; he was excited for math and show-and-tell.”
Visit www.ryansrebels.org on the Web for more information or to make a donation.
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