Ryan’s a cookie maestro

Ryan’s a cookie maestro

13 May 2015

A YOUNG man with a talent for making mouthwatering chocolate chip cookies is using his baking skills to raise money for two leading charities.

Ryan Bogues, who has already raised thousands of pounds for Trocaire, is now focusing his efforts on Marie Curie and Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Twenty one year-old Ryan, who has Down’s Syndrome, has set up his own mini business as part of his latest fundraising initiative and is hoping his tempting cookies will raise lots of money for both organisations.

As part of the fundraising initiative, Ryan is placing an honesty box at the end of the driveway to his Drumnaconagher Road home in Teconnaught known as “Ryan’s Cookie Box.” Inside are a delicious range of expertly hand-made cookies.

People who want to buy one of his cookies, which come complete with a list of ingredients and have been approved by Newry, Mourne and Down Council environmental health officials, simply take one from the box and place the money in a container.

The recommended cost of the individually wrapped cookies is £1 for two and people who stop and open the box are greeted by a recorded voice message asking ‘do you want to buy a cookie?’

Ryan’s mum Hazel explained her son was bitten by the fundraising bug when he was a pupil at the Holy Family Primary School with encouragement from teacher Anne Monaghan.

She explained Ryan’s grandmother passed away at the Marie Curie Hospice the Christmas before last, prompting her son to raise money for the organisation.

“Ryan has raised thousands of pounds for Trocaire in the past but has now turned attention to Marie Curie and Medecins Sans Frontieres which does some excellent work in many scary places around the world,” explained Hazel.

“In addition to the cookies, Ryan is also baking some buns which will be in the box at the end of our driveway. In keeping with environmental health directives, the wrappers on the cookies and buns will contain information about not only the ingredients but potential allergens.”

Hazel said all profits Ryan makes from his latest fundraising venture will be divided between his chosen charities.

“We will see how things go and if demand for Ryan’s cookies increases then we will get baking a lot more. Ryan has a very special recipe for his cookies and anyone who has ever tasted them will tell you they are delicious. He plans to put a lot of effort into his latest fundraising venture and we know people will really enjoy his cookies,” said his proud mum.

A large sign directing people keen to sample Ryan’s cooking has been erected on the Drumnaconagher Road, with the 21 year-old hoping passing motorists will stop to help him raise money for two very worthy causes.