A SOLID FOUNDATION
THE RYAN ANDREW KAISER FOUNDATION GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

The Kaiser family started the Ryan Andrew Kaiser Memorial Foundation in 2003 after the sudden and unexpected death of their six year old son, Ryan. "It's virtually impossible to communicate the llevel of pain, sadness and lack of understanding we live with every minute of every day through the loss of Ryan. Being able to channel these feelings, along with the infinite love we have for our son, in a constructive way has been helpful to our healing process," Andrew Kaiser, Ryan's father, says.

Over the last three years, RAKMF has financially assisted families of critically ill children, who may not have otherwise been able to afford proper healthcare. RAKMF takes a comprehensive approach to the use of its funds, donating monies to every aspect of a sick child's life from treatment to supplies for the home to research for a cure.

The organization also donates funds to hospitals and doctor groups that specialize in the cure and care of pediatric heart patients. Additionally, RAKMF is working toward building a children's park, dedicated to Ryan, in Middletown, NJ. The Kaisers aim to provide children and their families with a safe and fun place to play and enjoy life.

"Our ability today to help others deal with their losses, help fund research that may someday eliminate this type of tragedy altogether, help families ease the financial burden associated with caring for critically ill children, and the fact that we have our two healthy children is what gives us the courage to live and act everyday rather than sit and focus on our tremendous loss," says Kaiser.

With an unparalleled drive, a strong vision and a passion to make a difference, RAKMF has been able to accomplish so much in a relatively short amount of time, including the donation of $10,000 to the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch, NJ. We at TFG applaud how clearly the organization affects its outreach: "For every two runners who participate in Ryan's Run, RAKMF's sole fundraising effort, our foundation is able to pay for a family's one night lodging near their child—and that is priceless," Kaiser adds.

To sign up for Ryan's Run on June 24, go to www.ryansrun.org.

To read more about Ryan's story and learn more about the RAKMF and ways to get involved visit www.rakmf.org.

They also encourage families with critically ill children to contact them for assistance and support at info@rakmf.org.