Kells boy launches toy appeal
A KIND hearted Kells boy is raising money for his local St Vincent de Paul Society to buy toys for children this Christmas.
Eight-year-old Rían Smith came up with the idea, and with the help of his mum Lorraine, they set up a Go Fund me page ‘Rian’s Appeal for St Vincent de Paul’.
Lorraine explained how the appeal came about:”We entered a text competition to win a trolley dash in Smyths Toys on Today Fm and Rían was one of 20 kids in the draw.
'He didn’t win and there were tears that morning. I told him not to be too upset that Santa would be coming soon and he would get toys. But Rían said the reason he was upset because he had planned on donating half the toys to St Vincent de Paul.”
Rían, a second class pupil in St Colmcille’s Boys NS, went off to school and when he came home that day told his mum he would like to raise money so that the boys and girls could still get their toys.
Lorraine set up a Go Fund me page and Rían thought if they could raise €50 it would be great.
However since setting up the appeal last Thursday, Lorraine said it has “snowballed” and they have raised over €800 to date.
The plan is to keep accepting donations until 1st December and then Rían will present the proceeds to St Vincent de Paul in Kells on 2nd December, a date he chose to coincide with the Late Late Toy Show.
Rían is very specific that the money should only be used to buy toys and Lorraine has explained this to their local SVP branch.
“We are so proud of Rían, he is a little sweetheart,” said proud mum Lorraine.

Rían’s Appeal runs until 1st December.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at