Texas student marks six years of fundraising for Kids Heart Challenge™, raising $20,000 to help children with heart defects
LORENA, Texas, March 26, 2026 — When 11-year-old Ryan Ragsdale began participating in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge as a kindergartner, he came home from school with a simple message for his mom: He wanted to help “kids with holes in their hearts.”
Six years later, that commitment has grown into more than $20,000 raised to support the Association’s lifesaving research, education and advocacy work.
Now a fifth-grade student at Lorena Elementary School, Ryan has become known throughout the district — and in two school communities — for the annual toy sale he organizes each February. The idea began when he asked his mother, Sarah Ragsdale-Kline, how he could do more than just ask people for donations.
“He decided he would give up toys he still loved because he wanted other kids to have healthy hearts like his,” Sarah said. “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.”
His contributions will be celebrated during a school assembly March 27. At least for now, he doesn’t know the rally will highlight his accomplishments.
Each year, Ryan sifts through toys he has collected since toddlerhood, including favorites like Thomas the Tank Engine sets and a beloved Jurassic Park-era Tyrannosaurus Rex toy he received at age 3. He also sorts through the hundreds of Pokémon cards he has collected over seven years, selling about 700 of them to boost his fundraising total.
The largest single sale came when he parted with a family pitching machine for $50, followed closely by a swing set and donated items from relatives and friends.
“Every year, he sets a higher goal than the year before,” Sarah said. “He does it because he knows the money is going to kids who need it.”
Ryan said the best part of Kids Heart Challenge is the moment he and his mom count the money at the end of each sale. “I feel really proud and excited that I’m making a difference,” he said.
Ryan also paints rocks to sell, a tradition inspired by the many rocks he started collecting as a toddler and the painted rocks he found around town. He chooses designs based on the shapes of the rocks or ideas he finds online.
Those who shop his sales get thanked with a joke; Sarah buys an age-appropriate book of jokes for Ryan each year, a family custom Sarah started when Ryan was 6 because “laughing is good for the heart,” he says.
His current favorite: “What makes a tooth fairy so smart? Wisdom teeth.”
Even with his artistic talents and fundraising track record, Ryan already has a career path in mind: law.
“I like debating with people about what I think the correct answer would be,” he said with a grin. “I can go on and on about why I was right.”
Sarah laughs that this skill shows up at home too. “He keeps us on our toes,” she 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.”
For nearly 50 years, the American Heart Association has been working with educators in elementary, middle and high schools across the nation to help educate students about healthy living. The Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ are service learning-based fundraising programs that give students the opportunity to feel good, while doing good. It’s a way for students to better their life — all while changing someone else’s. Students, families and staff also learn valuable life skills, including how to make smart food choices, the importance of avoiding vaping/tobacco and the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR.
Funds raised by Kids Heart Challenge participants support the American Heart Association’s scientific research and outreach programs, paving the way for technological breakthroughs to improve health outcomes while creating healthier communities. Depending on the amount of funds Lorena Elementary raises, it can receive thousands of dollars in give-backs and incentives to be used for physical education equipment for the school.
More information about the Kids Heart Challenge and how to get involved, visit www.heart.org/kidsheartchallenge or contact Brooke Sharples at Brooke.Sharples@heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries
Cyd King: M 479.263.8473; cyd.king@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org
