£100,000 raised in Ryan's memory for Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust
AN incredible £100,000 has been raised by the family and friends of a young West Belfast sportsman who tragically died earlier this year, for the charity which worked to bring his body home. Ryan Straney (27) died in Australia in April following a collision on Sydney’s M1 Pacific Motorway. Within hours of his death a Go Fund Me page was set up to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT), with £50,000 raised in the first day. Ryan, from the Upper Springfield Road, played for Lámh Dhearg GAC before his career was cut short through injury. He was also a keen golfer and a clubman at Balmoral Golf Club. This week his family and friends gathered at Balmoral to present a cheque for £100,000 to Colin Bell from KBRT. Colin, who started the charity in 2013 after the death of his son Kevin in New York, said the money raised is a significant figure and could potentially help up to 40 families in the future. “It’s just a testament to Ryan Straney and the sort of person he was and the family he had that so much was raised and it’s a legacy for him and it will help so many families,” said Colin. “You don’t get £100,000 every week and you know what it is going to be used for and unfortunately it will be used.”