Fairfield Friends Rally Around Classmate Battling Cancer

Five Fairfield Ludlowe graduates are rallying around their friend and fellow classmate Ryan Van Zandt, who is battling a rare form of cancer.

The Fairfield Citizen reports that Zak Mallard, Craig Rittberg, Conor Roach, Will Secchi and Sam Winn, all members of the Ludlowe Class of 2008, have joined forces with Van Zandt’s cousin, Brett Gaboury of Arizona, to create “Reps for Ryan” to raise funds for the Van Zandt family to help with Ryan’s medical bills, to donate money for cancer research and to spread awareness about the disease.

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Van Zandt has uveal melanoma, a rare cancer of the eye that can spread to other parts of the body, and he was first diagnosed in the summer of 2008 after graduation, and made the decision to have his eye removed to fight the cancer, according to the Citizen.

Van Zandt was diagnosed with additional tumors this past June after being cancer-free for several years.

The friends have launched a website, a GoFundMe account, and are selling Reps for Ryan gear to help with the fundraising effort.

The friends posted the following message on the GoFundMe page:

Wear our gear! Take pictures in our gear! Promote our cause!

Recently our best friend was re-diagnosed with a very rare and serious form of uveal melanoma. This news couldn’t have been more heart breaking, 25 years old and already dealing with his second battle with cancer. It may have cost him an eye, but he has made up for that with enough lifts and laughs to last a lifetime.

Ryan is an inspiration to all. Reps For Ryan is here to promote, encourage and inspire others to always keep fighting and living the life you love even when the going gets tough - just like Ryan does day in and day out.

Our hearts are in this for Ryan and his family, however it is Ryan’s selfless wish that a portion of the proceeds go towads the charities that have helped him along the way as well (The Susan Fund & Cancer Care). He is like a brother to us all, and together, we are fighting uveal melanoma one rep at time.

The group has raised nearly $30,000 as of Monday afternoon.

Read more about their fundraising efforts at the Fairfield Citizen here.

Visit the Reps for Ryan website here, the GoFundMe page here and the group’s Facebook page here.

Photo via Reps for Ryan on Facebook