Ryan sees his job as being able to help others and takes pride in what we bake

Ryan sees his job as being able to help others and takes pride in what we bake

12 February 2025

RENOWNED baker Ryan Bogues didn’t let Storm Éowyn and power failures deter his latest heartwarming mission, raising funds for the disaster relief charity ShelterBox. 

The 30 year-old – who is behind Ryan’s Cookie Box based at the Drumnaconagher Road outside Crossgar – has been fundraising for different charities since he was 20, baking cakes and creating delicious homemade jams to sell to members of the public with the unwavering support of his mum, sister, and loyal customers.  

Ryan, who has Down Syndrome, has raised more than £80,000? for local, national, and international charities and his Cookie Box will celebrate its 10th anniversary in April.

His latest two-month baking marathon raised funds for ShelterBox by selling home bakes goodies from an honesty box outside his family home. 

The charity, which turns 25 this year, specialises in emergency shelter and supports people all over the world who have had to flee their homes because of conflict or disaster.?? 

Ryan’s mum Hazel said they try to support charities that Ryan understands. 

“ShelterBox has such a clear and simple message and Ryan can really get the idea of how tents, lights, pans and mattresses help in the event of major disasters,” she said.

“Ryan really enjoys baking and is a fine baker. He likes to see people enjoying his baking. I think it is fair to say that he sees this as his job, takes great pride in the fact that it is his and is very proud of what we bake.

“Most importantly, he sees his job as being able to help people and he doesn’t make a fuss about it,” Hazel continued.

Having been first inspired by ShelterBox’s response to people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, it’s the third time Ryan has chosen to fundraise for the charity. 

Every month, he has a renewed sense of determination for his baking and fundraising. This year has been no different, despite recently losing power during Storm Éowyn. 

“During the recent storm our electricity was out for five days and the house was very cold and dark. Now, we have not lost sight of the fact that for us this was an inconvenience, not a disaster, but one thing I would say is that while Ryan will pile on the extra jumpers and blankets with no fuss at all, he really hates the dark.

“What Ryan did have though, in the months that we are supporting ShelterBox, is a little solar powered light that they gave him during a visit to our house the first year he fundraised for them. 

“It has stayed in his room ever since and still works beautifully. It really came into its own sitting beside Ryan’s bed and bringing the comfort of 

light into his room each night, helping him feel safe during the storm. It also gave us a reference point when we were talking about all that ShelterBox do.” 

Ryan’s Cookie Box is a well-loved fixture in the community with generous customers coming from all over Northern Ireland to try Ryan’s bakes and donate to charity. 

Supporters also donate fruit, jam jars, and local eggs to support Ryan and Hazel with their cakes, jam, jellies, and chutneys. 

And in addition to raising thousands of pounds for ShelterBox, Ryan regularly fundraises for Marie Curie, the ADSUM Foundation, Ballynahinch Food Bank and the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway.

“Ryan [all of us really], have made such good friends through Ryan’s Cookie Box,” said Hazel.

“There is real pride in Ryan and his achievements and this stretches all over the world through the magic of social media. Some follow for the baking and fundraising and others follow to see Ryan’s journey in it all.

“I hope we provide encouragement and hope for families who might be starting on their own journey of having a youngster with additional needs in the family. We are blessed.” 

ShelterBox community fundraising assistant John Stanbury said like the extra toppings on their cookies, Ryan and Hazel’s empathy for others is extraordinary.

“Together they have done so much for charity, including fundraising for those affected by conflict or disaster, and so it meant a lot to us to hear how the solar light provided Ryan with extra comfort through the storm and dark nights.  

 “Ryan and Hazel are a part of our ShelterBox family, just as everyone who buys a cookie or sees their work online feels a part of their family.” 

ShelterBox relies heavily on public donations to fund its responses to disasters across the world and has supported more than three million people in around 100 countries since it was founded in 2000.

The number of people displaced globally by extreme weather, conflict, and other disasters has never been higher and the work of the charity never 

more urgent, with ShelterBox supporting people who’ve lost their homes to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and conflict.