Over 200 people gathered at the starting line at Morgan Park on Saturday to run a lap in honour of beloved local athlete, Ryan Hennessy.
Ryan (12) is a track star, with a 100m personal best of 13.5 seconds. He’s also a footy player with the Mundijong Centrals and had just started his pre-season training.
But in early December, Ryan was involved in an unfortunate accident on the Byford scarp.
“It’s changed the course of our lives,” mum, Susan Hennessy said, who hasn’t left his hospital bedside for six weeks.
The accident has permanently left Ryan without the use of his legs.
“It’s devastating,” Susan said. “He’s such a bright and active boy. It’s so unfair that this has happened to him.”
But, undeterred by life’s obstacles, Ryan has kept his sunny disposition and is looking forward to pursuing a career as a para athlete.
“Ryan is one of those kids that just takes everything on with positivity,” Susan said.
“He’s currently trying to perfect his wheelies, which is scaring all the nurses.
“His incredible attitude to life has made it so much easier for us to navigate this new normal with him. He’s taken this on with so much maturity.
“And we’re so blessed to be surrounded by an incredible team of doctors, nurses and occupational therapists here at the hospital.
“My family too – especially my mum – has really stepped up to help.
“But what has really blown us away is how our community has reached out to support us through this.”
Each year Dale Athletics Centre hosts an invitational round and donates the funds raised to the Perth Children’s Hospital. But this year they collectively decided to help one of their own.
“He’s just such a great kid,” Dale Registrar Erica Bevis said.
“We were all thinking about the Hennessys and wanted to show our support. This was a practical way to show we care without inundating them with bunches of flowers that ultimately wouldn’t really help in the long run.”
The Run for Ryan was registered with the Australian Sports Foundation, and within a week had raised over $22,000 for the Hennessy family. And Ryan was able to be part of Saturday’s run via Facetime from his hospital bed.
“These funds will be able to help them with the transition of bringing Ryan home and all of the sudden expenses that brings,” Erica said.
“And racing wheelchairs can be expensive – if we can help him afford one then that would be amazing.”
Susan said she was initially hesitant in agreeing to the fundraiser.
“But Ryan convinced me – he said: ‘that sounds cool – just say yes, mum’”.
“I honestly can’t thank people enough. I don’t have the words to express how much this means.
“The athletics community started this, but there are so many other groups who have come on board, like the Mundijong Centrals, and the equestrian community.
“It’s phenomenal how many people have reached out.”
Member for Darling Range Hugh Jones also got in on the action, offering a prize draw for those contributing to the fundraiser.
“It was awesome to see the flood of support for Ryan and his family, both on the track at the Run for Ryan event on Saturday as well as the generous response to the fundraiser coordinated by David Bevis and his team at Byford Little Athletics and the Dale Athletics Centre,” he said.
Ryan will need to be in hospital for at least another month.
“But he’s got a good outlook and he’s progressing well,” Susan said. “And the hospital has organised a ramp for us so he can get into the house when we’re ready to go home.”
In fact, everyone is keen to ensure Ryan’s life goes back to as normal as possible.
His school, Court Grammar, are keen to make any adjustments necessary to accommodate Ryan’s return to school.
And Dale Athletics is working with the City of Armadale to ensure accessibility is front of mind throughout the Morgan Park redevelopment.
“We’re just so lucky to have so many beautiful people around us. Thank you so much,” Susan said.
Donations can be made to the Hennessy family through this link.
Anyone wanting to know more can email runforryan.2025@gmail.com
