BatRyan needs your help!

UPDATE: We are no longer requesting donations for this campaign, we are keeping it open so we can make sure all of our supporters receive their rewards before we close the campaign down.  It was fully funded and we appreciate all of our donors and appreciate all of the support we continue to have for our new adventures as Hero Strong. :)  Thanks for looking.  

Hello all,
This may seem long, sorry, but it is close to my heart so please forgive me for getting carried away. Thank you in advance for taking the time to consider helping.

(Backstory)
 As everyone may already know, my name is Ryan Kelbel and my life changed in a very unexpected way, around a year and half ago.  I met a little girl named Raygen that was battling cancer.  I had heard Raygen's story through community channels, my wife, and also Facebook.  "RaygenStrong " was the title, and helping to save a little girl's life against cancer was the cause.

My wife, went to a Zumba benefit for Raygen at a nearby YMCA, and called me to inform me that Raygen was in fact in attendance and was wearing her Batgirl suit.  She suggested I put on the Batsuit I had just built myself for a Halloween party earlier in the year and come surprise Raygen.  I did.  My life is forever changed.


Raygen eventually invited me to her birthday party, which is what my profile picture is from. Lots of fun was had, lots of pictures were taken, and Batman showered Raygen with lots of donated Bat-gifts.  After meeting Raygen, and becoming involved in her cancer battle, I just started to see things differently.  Having lost my dad, friends, and loved ones to cancer it was always a personal drive for me, but after watching it affect a small child and her family that I knew personally it really started to drive my will to help.

(Getting to the point of this "GoFundMe")
Since meeting Raygen and beginning this journey, I've done multiple events, benefits, and birthdays as Batman.  I've never requested money for my Batman appearances only a donation to St. Jude's or Dayton Children's Hospital, and gas money if the event is far.  I have received the occasional gift card as a gift or store credit when helping friends and family, which is appreciated but not required for my help.  Along with my Batman Events, and RaygenStrong St. Jude's Warrior Dash fundraising efforts, we raised over $4,000 dollars last year alone for Children's Cancer Research..

The best gift I get from this adventure is the smiling faces I see when I enter the room, or the overwhelming sense of excitement I see in a kid's eyes.  Me being a comic nerd all of my life and having a life long love for Batman and other heroes, helps me understand where these kids are coming from and really gives me an appreciation for their enthusiasm.  It also helps me communicate with them as I answer A LOT of questions. :)  It's also an even better feeling when you know that just your presence and attention brings a child who may be fighting for their life has hope because they know their hero is behind them.  It makes me feel like I've given something to this world that I never thought I would ever be able to do, and I want to continue this mission.  


However this mission has so far been about Batman only.  My support backbone (Aimee Kelbel), has been encouraging me and helping me push on this path.  Basically being the silent support structure behind me, helping me put on eye black, adjusting costume pieces, helping me setup events and basically just being there for me.  We want my adventure to become "OUR" adventure.

So, our plan here is to take a next step.  BATGIRL!, My wife is more then just my support structure, she's an amazing & caring person. It's time she's more then just my behind the scenes costume assistant and helper. She has the same spirit to help these kids as I do. It's time we start seeing Batgirl out there represented for the girls more often!

(Batgirl suit example)

I am joining up with some great people at a few non-profits for some events, and awareness campaigns, we are very excited to work with all of them.  As well as hoping to become more active with activities and fund raising events for the Anti-Bullying support, Children's Miracle Network, St. Jude's Cancer Research Center, and MDA.  There will also be a scheduled Dayton Children's Hospital visit, once a month, EVERY month, with one or both of us.

We want to do this.  We want to do it for all of us, for all of you, for all of the kids that look up to Batman & Batgirl.  We have the ability, the time, the interest and the opportunity so why shouldn't we do it?

(This is where you come in.)
We need donations from you,  our friends, our family, our co-workers, our  fellow nerds, and anybody who just wants to donate to a great cause and help us, help some kids in need of Batman's presence.  We need all of you to help  and donate to help us make the next step in this adventure I have started in the last year and half.

A message from our little sidekick Raygen. :)

Please help us acheive this goal, and try to make our world a better place for kids who need hope.  

Our campaign will until April 27th.

Monetary Goals :
$900 = Batgirl! Starts the cause of making this "I" into a "we" and get's my wife a batsuit of her own. Professional and durable.
$1200 = Get's Batgirl, her cowl, cape, gloves, boots, and belt to complete her suit, thus completing the "we". 
$1700 =  Helps cover our "extra" expenses to continue this next step in our journey.
- Props... batarangs, batarangs, batarangs...
- Accessories, clips, belt pockets, anything we can use to customize props and belt pieces.
- Getting a photographer to help us get some really good promotional "heroic" pictures.
- Business/Awareness cards
- Small Posters
- A new website for this adventure
- Stickers, and other giveaways for the kids
- A GoPro camera for recording all of this adventure and making fun videos for our events, and kids we visit.

*Stretch Goals* (Wish List Items) :
There are future plans for improvements to our cause that could be accelerated if we beat our goal.

- SPIDER-MAN!, we can expand our superhero arsenal with an additional hero and volunteer, such as Spidey, Captain America, Wonder Woman, or maybe a Star Wars character..  we've already done our research, believe me. ;)
- A mannequin for proper storage of the batsuits when not being worn to be displayed with the plaque of supporters.

*On the chance we are able to raise enough for our wish list items and over, it only expands what we can do with this journey.. raising the bar to something we never imagined possible when I made a halloween costume out of under armour and a motorcross vest.. Maybe someday we can bring a Batmobile to a kid's birthday and MDA walk.. we can dream right. ;)

What I can offer you in return:
- Our eternal thanks for helping us continue this journey.
- EVERY donor will get their name listed on a plaque that will on display in my office with the suit when it is not in use.  Reminding me and any visitors of how caring people can be, and what that suit represents.
- "Like" my the coming Batman/Batgirl Facebook page, which we will share on here if the funding is successful, and sit back and watch the smiles of the kids Batman helps.
- If you go to an event, let's get a picture together.  Whatever pose you want, you could even beat up Batman if ya wanted...  ;)

 ***** Specific REWARDS listed down below. *****
(Reward fineprint:   Rewards for appearances, must pay for travel costs if it's not within a 2 hour drive of our home.  Batgirl will attend appearances,  or messages if the suit is available to utilize it in time.  )

We have met some amazing kids, and families on this journey thus far.  We don't want it to end , and we'd like to start making it even better for everyone involved as I can.  Thank you for your time, and hopefully your support.

*Also stay posted to our updates feed as we will want to stay in contact with updates.*

Stay RaygenStrong,
Ryan Kelbel

Thank you to all my friends, family, coworkers, and just plain great people for supporting me this far, and encouraging us to take this "leap of faith" into GoFundMe for our next steps.

Remember:
"Always be yourself, Unless you can be Batman, ALWAYS be Batman."


-A word from Raygen's dad Ben:
"Two years ago our 5 yr-old daughter Raygen was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Needless to say Raygen's childhood has been anything but typical. However, my wife and I have absolutely no complaints of how the last 2 years have played out for Raygen. It is because of the numerous acts of kindness that was bestowed upon us by a variety of individuals including Ryan Kelbel and his wife. Individuals that have the courage to enter into someone else's darkest days and try to brighten them deserve the support from the rest of us that have maybe never had the opportunity to do so. Pay it forward and please support Ryan & Aimee in their quest. I can tell you first hand how it can light up the faces of a bunch of children that need a little laughter in their lives.
Thank You,
Ben Kramer"
-Thank you Ben. -RK & AK