Kid hero talks about
importance of community
service, volunteering
By Dave Woods • Official Kids Mag
A GOOD KID
Ryan Durby's interest in volunteering
and community service started at an
early age.
"I guess it was cancer," the 10-year-
old Owl Creek Elementary fifth grader
explained. "I was diagnosed when I was
four-years old. We had to go to hospitals
during the school year and I missed a lot
of days. I'm fine now."
During those visits to get treatments for
the disease, Ryan became aware of the
many opportunities for volunteer service.
It wasn't long until he found a way to get
involved through the local Kiwanis Club.
"I first joined K-Kids when I was in
second grade," he said. "We made cards
and went to nursing homes and we gave
them to the people at Katherine's Place.
It was a great time for them."
That started it all. Soon he was looking
for ways to get involved in his school
community. He joined his school's Green
Team.
"It's a group at our school where we
go around and recycle the trash in the
building," he said. "We pretty much try
and make the school a better place. If we
just throw the trash and waste and plastic
stuff into the trash, we can't reuse those
materials and it ruins our earth. We all
just need to work together because the
earth is sort of a mess with toxic waste."
This year another opportunity to make
a difference arose and Ryan was all in.
"It's Health Squad," he said. "It was
just started this year. We talked about
exclusion and bullying. That's most of it
so far. We fight against bullying and that
sort of stuff with the club."
Ryan, a self-proclaimed 'all-A'
student is a good kid.
Even his older
sister, Lauryn,
thinks so. She
might even
have Ryan
to thank for
her interest
in community
service. Now
17, and a senior
at Fayetteville High
School, she's been
involved in volunteering since
she was her little brother's age.
"I got involved because my brother did
have cancer," she said. "When he was
diagnosed, my fourth grade class sent him
cards at Children's Hospital. I think that's
what sparked an interest in community
service for me and my brother."
Lauryn must be doing something right.
She was recently named Youth of the
Year for their Boys and Girls Club.
Watching her brother grow and fight
cancer has been an awakening experience
for her. After all, siblings often have a
special bond.
"It's been interesting," she said, with a
little hesitation, and a laugh. "Sometimes
he likes to brag about how smart he is
and that's kind of annoying. It's also awe
striking sometimes to watch him grow
up."
Both siblings plan to continue with their
community involvement and volunteering.
Lauryn explained its benefits in a very
understandable way.
"Getting involved isn't just about
helping others," she said. "It's about
helping yourself, too. From what I've
seen, community service heals wounds
internally."
Go to fayettevillekids.org to learn more about the local organization and its programs,
or go to bgca.org to learn more about the national program.
KID
HEROES
Off icialKidsMag.com • AUG & SEPT 2018 • 39
