Our Mission
The Ry Guy Foundation was founded in memory of Ryan Baker, who passed away from Pediatric Ewing Sarcoma in January of 2014 after a brave 18 month battle. The foundation was formed to help raise money for Ewing Sarcoma and Pediatric Cancer research, which are dramatically underfunded in this country. Each year, less than 5% of Federal cancer research dollars are spent on pediatric cancer research. This, despite thousands of children dying from cancer each year. The survival rate for children diagnosed with metastatic Ewing Sarcoma is less than 25%.
About Ryan Baker (AKA Ry Guy)
Ryan was not unlike a lot of young boys in this country. He was a joyful kid who had a sharp wit. He loved sports, video games and his friends and family. He was not afraid to trade verbal jabs (trash talk) with anyone, especially when it came to sports. He loved watching sport shows and remembered everything ESPN had featured. He put a smile on everyone’s face he met. His smile, humor and laugh were contagious.
Ryan was born in Cleveland, OH and had a deep love for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was also a diehard Chicago Bulls, Cubs and Blackhawks fan because his parents were from Chicago. He loved college basketball and thought he was born in March for one reason, to run March Madness contests. He loved watching all the Tampa teams too, he especially liked going to the games. He loved to play sports too. If he wasn’t watching sports he was playing them at home, at school or on travel teams. He would shoot baskets for hours in the driveway. He would throw the football or a baseball with his brother everyday. He was a great brother, friend and son.
Unfortunately, his life changed dramatically on June 15th, 2012 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma. The 5 year survival rate for stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma is around 20%, but that never deterred Ryan. He never complained or asked “why me”. He kept his priceless smile and wit until the day he passed, January 14, 2014. He was so courageous and lifted those around him who could sense his fun loving spirit. He didn’t want others to look at him differently, he just wanted them to remember him the way he always was. His looks might have changed from the rigorous cancer, chemotherapy and radiation but his heart and humor were still the same. He had to undergo more than a teenage boy should. He had to deal with the realization of dying at the age of 14. There was no more hope the doctor’s said, no more clinical trials, and no medicine that was going to help. Ry still believed there was a chance. We now know God had a different plan for him. We need to spread the word about Ewing Sarcoma Cancer and pediatric cancers to help others. We need research so our children do not have to die young.
We will always Remember Ryan!