The Hale School community has channelled its grief at losing a much-loved student into a fundraising initiative that has raised over $40,000 for medical research.
Year 12 student Ryan Murphy died in March after an inoperable brain tumour was discovered only weeks prior. He’d only just returned from a school cricket tour in January and was starting his final year at school.
Ryan had been at Hale School since Year 1, following in the steps of his two older brothers. He was a high achiever, keen cricketer and friend to everyone. With such a long connection to the School, his passing had a profound effect on the school community. His funeral service was held in the School Chapel.
In honour of Ryan, the Year 12 Prefects decided to initiate a fundraiser for research into brain cancer. The fundraiser had two parts: a head shave and a fun run.
The Shave for Ryan took part on Friday 21 July with over 300 students and several staff shaving or cutting their hair for a donation. Almost $10,000 was raised on that one day.
The following day was the Run for Ryan, where close to 1,000 members of the Hale community – including students, staff, family members and friends – came together on the Saturday morning to run or walk around two of the School’s ovals for an hour. It was also an opportunity for the wider community to show their support for Ryan’s family.
Hale’s Captain of School, Ashton Bryant, said he hoped that the Run for Ryan would become an annual event.
“We were all deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Ryan. He was a devoted Haleian and a great mate to many. Speaking to Ryan’s close friends, it is agreed, whilst Ryan may no longer be with us, Murv’s legacy will and must live on.”
All proceeds are being donated to the Harry Perkins Institute to support medical research into brain cancer. The Institute has set up a scholarship in Ryan’s name for two students from Hale to attend the Perkins Profs course at the BioDiscovery Centre. This is the same course that Ryan had previously participated in, where students are guided by research scientists into techniques and knowledge used in medical research.
With the support of Ryan’s family, Hale School has also introduced a new scholarship in his name, to be awarded each year to a boy who is an all-rounder like Ryan was, but not currently attending Hale School. You can find out more about the Ryan Murphy General Excellence Scholarship here.
