Since last November Ryan has been growing his hair to raise vital funds for the Society of African Missions. It's a cause close to his heart and an organisation his grandparents proudly supported. It was through them Ryan, pictured, was introduced to the charity and he's been championing their work to raise as much money as possible.
SMA work to provide priests for the poorest regions in Africa and also concentrate on building brick homes for local families. The normal shelter families have is in the form of a mud homes which melt away or fall down during the rainy season. People never have the savings of their own to rebuild immediately.
The Society says of the hundreds of people in need it can only help between 3 and 7 families every year and give them homes that are guaranteed to last.
Higher fuel costs and a short supply of some building materials has caused prices to rise by between 8% and 12%, so an even greater urgency has been added to the fundraising effort.
Ryan has been attending a camp called Dromantine, which supports the Mission work, for the last five years. It's for young people aged between 11 and 17 years and the participants get to spend a week there, playing sport and enjoying fellowship.
He says the camp serves an important dual purpose in providing young people with a social outlet as well as raising awareness of the vital work taking place in Africa.
Ryan has already raised over £520 through friends at his school, St Patrick's Academy, and supporters. But he's on a quest to raise more cash.
If you can help contact Ryan on 028 8772 7004 and find out more about the work of the Society of African Missions.
And his fundraising venture will come to an end on August 1st after 7pm Mass at Dromantine when his Mum, Patricia, will shave his head and banish the lustrous locks he's been cultivating so carefully.