Meet Ryan Ragsdale, 11: Sold 700 Pokémon cards, raised $20k for heart research

An 11-year-old schoolboy from Texas has given away hundreds of his own toys, Pokémon cards and hand-painted rocks over six years. He has raised more than $20,000 for children born with heart defects. Ryan Ragsdale is a fifth-grade pupil at Lorena Elementary School. He first joined the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge at age five, when he was in kindergarten. He came home wanting to help “kids with holes in their hearts.” He worked out a plan with his mother to sell his own childhood things instead of just asking neighbours for cash. Data released by the American Heart Association confirms that Ryan’s yearly toy sales have raised more than $20,000 (£15,800) for the charity’s medical research, public education and health advocacy campaigns. Every February, Ryan clears out his bedroom to find items to list for local buyers. Over six years, he has sold about 700 Pokémon cards from his own collection. He has also sold a Thomas the Tank Engine train set and a Jurassic Park-era Tyrannosaurus Rex toy that he had kept since he was three years old.Raising money by selling childhood treasuresThe idea for the yearly sale began when Ryan asked his mother, Sarah Ragsdale-Kline, how he could make a bigger difference through his school’s fundraising drive. “He decided he would give up toys he still loved because he wanted other kids to have healthy hearts like his,” Sarah Ragsdale-Kline told the American Heart Association Newsroom. “He’s always been friendly and never met a stranger, but the passion he had at such a young age to help others was something remarkable.” According to the charity’s local news release, Ryan’s biggest single sale was a family pitching machine that sold for $50. He also sold a garden swing set. Relatives, neighbours and family friends gave him items too, because they wanted to support his fundraising. To raise more money, Ryan collects stones and paints them. He uses designs he finds online or ones inspired by the natural shape of each stone. Every buyer of an item or a rock gets a joke from Ryan. His mother buys him an age-appropriate joke book each year. It is part of a family rule that “laughing is good for the heart.” Ryan said his favorite joke this year is: “What makes a tooth fairy so smart? Wisdom teeth.”Celebrating a six-year milestoneRyan looked back on his six years of fundraising. He said his favourite part of each sale is counting up the final cash total with his mother at the end. “I feel really proud and excited that I’m making a difference,” Ryan told the American Heart Association. His mother said Ryan sets a higher target for himself every year. He clearly understands where the money goes. “Every year, he sets a higher goal than the year before,” Sarah Ragsdale-Kline said. “He does it because he knows the money is going to kids who need it.” Lorena Elementary School plans to honour Ryan’s efforts at a special school assembly on 27 March, according to the American Heart Association. Outside of his charity work, Ryan already has his sights set on a career in law. “I like debating with people about what I think the correct answer would be,” Ryan said. “I can go on and on about why I was right.” His mother added that his debate skills are already well known at home. “He keeps us on our toes,” Sarah Ragsdale-Kline said. “But truly, it’s an honor to be his mom. The amazing things he does and the heart behind it all inspire us every year.”How school fundraising supports heart researchThe Kids Heart Challenge is a service-learning program run by the American Heart Association in primary and secondary schools across the United States. According to the organisation, money raised through the nationwide school program pays for scientific research into congenital heart defects. It also funds community health programmes. It teaches pupils life-saving skills, such as Hands-Only CPR and healthy eating habits. Schools that take part, such as Lorena Elementary, also get financial give-backs and equipment credits based on the total money their pupils raise. This helps physical education departments buy new sports and fitness gear.