Leader of The Tribe
Donation protected
I’m so sad that I actually have to create this Go Fund Me page. I, along with many others, were hoping for a cure for the strongest women I have known in my life. Her name was Diane Ryan. She lost her 6 year battle to ovarian cancer on April 4th of this year and she wasn’t buried until June 24th because of Covid. What made Diane so special is what she accomplished in her 6 years while she was ravaged by cancer. She continued to work as a palliative care nurse at Calvary Hospital, providing tender care for people that were terminally ill. In fact, that is the hospital where Diane spent the last 2 months of her life - and yes, she received outstanding care because she was beloved by her fellow nurses. Diane was featured in the documentary “Defining Hope,” which followed Diane through her daily routines as she came to terms with her own illness while nursing those in her care with exceptional skill and solemn dignity.
Diane also took up triathlons in the last few years of her life through the Rye, NY YMCA’s women’s triathlon team called The Tribe. She completed 3 of them, swimming, biking and running, all while going through cancer treatments. Furthermore, she ran the NYRR’s Shape Women’s half marathon completing it despite having to stop and throw up a few times - her determination alone got her to the finish line. She made quilts for people, shopped and made meals for her elderly neighbor, organized community dinners - whatever you needed, she was there to get it done for you. But Diane’s biggest achievement was her twin boys. She was diagnosed with cancer when they were 12 and she was determined to live to see them graduate from high school. She died a month shy of that goal. Her endless treatments, endless surgeries, endless trial protocols were all endured so she could continue to be a mom.
This past September both boys entered college. Diane made me promise that I would start a Go Fund Me page for the boys college education. One of them is going to a private college and the other, a state university. Tuition room and board for both of them is well over $85,000 a year. That means we need to raise around $340,000 to get them through college.
Diane was always there for others, please honor her by being there for her boys. Thank you for your kindness.
Diane also took up triathlons in the last few years of her life through the Rye, NY YMCA’s women’s triathlon team called The Tribe. She completed 3 of them, swimming, biking and running, all while going through cancer treatments. Furthermore, she ran the NYRR’s Shape Women’s half marathon completing it despite having to stop and throw up a few times - her determination alone got her to the finish line. She made quilts for people, shopped and made meals for her elderly neighbor, organized community dinners - whatever you needed, she was there to get it done for you. But Diane’s biggest achievement was her twin boys. She was diagnosed with cancer when they were 12 and she was determined to live to see them graduate from high school. She died a month shy of that goal. Her endless treatments, endless surgeries, endless trial protocols were all endured so she could continue to be a mom.
This past September both boys entered college. Diane made me promise that I would start a Go Fund Me page for the boys college education. One of them is going to a private college and the other, a state university. Tuition room and board for both of them is well over $85,000 a year. That means we need to raise around $340,000 to get them through college.
Diane was always there for others, please honor her by being there for her boys. Thank you for your kindness.
Organizer and beneficiary
Denise Cypher
Organizer
Rye, NY
Gabriel Ryan
Beneficiary