Fundraising goal: Linking skaters, skills, equipment

Ryan Rayl instructs a class of young learners on the fine art of skateboarding. A memorial fundraiser is currently under way which will provide scholarships and equipment for those wanting to skateboard, who don’t have the means. The fundraiser is a memorial for Jason Robert Fletcher, who died Feb. 8, 2026, at the age of 42. He was employed at Dirt Cheap, and his coworkers helped to organize this fund drive. Photo contributed by Ryan Rayl; reprinted with permission.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

For three consecutive years, Luke Bryant, Marion County’s prosecuting attorney, has taken on the challenge of raising money for scholarships. The scholarships are dedicated to enabling youth - who can’t afford lessons - to learn to skate under the tutelage of Ryan Rayl, doing business as Rayl’s Skate School.

Bryant said he wants to help give kids “the opportunity to get out and do something.”

The goal of this year’s fund drive, launched a week ago in conjunction with Bryant’s own birthday, was $1,000.

That goal has been matched and exceeded.

Now, all additional funds raised will be used to purchase skate boards and safety equipment for the scholarship recipients.

Donations are being collected in memory of Jason Robert Fletcher, who died unexpectedly on Feb. 8, 2026, at the age of 42.

At the time of his death, Fletcher was a popular employee at Hannibal’s Dirt Cheap Store, located in the Huck Finn Shopping Center.

That’s where Luke Bryant and Jason Fletcher first met.

“Jason was the type of person who knew a little bit about everything; he could find common ground with anybody he met. I’m a centric, a baseball historian. I came into the store with a St. Louis Brown’s hat on, and he latched on to that,” Bryant said. Jason shared his knowledge of this historic team.

“I might wear a T-shirt with an old Blues band on the front; he could find something in common to have a conversation about.”

The idea to dedicate proceeds from this year’s fundraiser to honor Jason was born shortly after his death. “I was at Jason’s visitation,” Bryant said, where he was approached by Jason’s coworkers.

They asked, “Are you doing that fundraiser for the skate school this year?”

“They wanted me to conduct a memorial fundraiser, this time allowing for funds to be used for the purchase of equipment,” as well as lessons, he said.

“Those guys and girls” at Dirt Cheap, “are so heartbroken over Jason’s passing. They were sad for the first week, then we started to take off with this fundraiser and turned sadness into excitement.”

Bryant originally tried to conduct the fundraiser in conjunction with Dirt Cheap, “but there was too much corporate red tape. So (Ryan Rayl and I) spearheaded it on our own.”

Why is Luke Bryant focused on raising money to help young people learn to skateboard?

“I just grew up in a small town with nothing to do and I was poor. I am living vicariously through these  kids,” helping them to “get exercise, and learn a new hobby.”

Bryant offers an apt description of Ryan Rayl, owner of Rayl’s Skate School. “He’s like a really great teacher for these kids; I’ve seen him in action. He’s like Mr. Rogers on a skateboard.”

Leaving a legacy

“By end of summer when you see a kid on a skateboard, you will think of Jason Fetcher. It was because of him that we did all of this,” Bryant said.

The goal the first weekend was to raise $1,000. That covers the skateboard class fees.

“I posted it on my Facebook; and I was texting other people who had donated in the past.”

Donors have included “police and (employees at the) sheriff’s office, and court personnel. A retired detective put us over the top.”

And this week he received a check from the International Association of Hannibal Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1211.

On Tuesday, Bryant said, “I am currently at $1,400,  and I’m shooting for $2,000. I hope we will have reached that by this weekend.”

Ryan Rayl set the specifications for the equipment purchases. He wants to ensure that his students have proper equipment.

Once Bryant has the money in hand, “I can just go order skateboards right away.”

Anything above and beyond the original goal will be spent on skateboards and safety equipment.

Anyone interested in donating to this cause is asked to contact Luke Bryant via Facebook messenger.

Skateboarding

Ryan Rayl, who had been living in rural Center with his family, moved back to Hannibal about five years ago. He and his wife have a son with special needs, who requires extra parental supervision. In order to supplement their family income, he offers skate lessons during the hours when his wife is available to watch their son at home.

“When I got back in town, me and one other grown man” were the only ones skateboarding.

“I remember back in the day we would skate around town in groups of 20. I was trying to figure  out why nobody was doing it anymore.”

Then he had an idea: “If I showed kids how to skate,” they would skate. Since then, “the sport has grown drastically,” he said. “This year is a peak moment, by the end of this summer it will be so many kids.”

His association with Luke Bryant, Marion County’s prosecuting attorney, came as a surprise.

“He messaged me a couple of years ago, and said that he loves what I’m doing. I brought up the idea of starting a skate camp. The year before last, he helped me set up the camp, and I had 8 or 9 kids” participate.

Currently, the camps are conducted on Saturday mornings.

The classes are for beginners. “I want to give them the tools to properly build themselves.  I’m not trying to make everyone skate like me; I want to help people figure out who they are as a skateboarder.

“People will graduate from what I’m doing. I can teach kids tricks, but my main goal is to make them comfortable no matter where they are at,” regarding skill level.

“Every kid I’ve had this year has continued since March. They are still taking lessons. I have everybody paid up for lessons until next month,” thanks to scholarships.

“I see a couple (of kids) skating around town; the oldest student I have is 14-15; I know he goes out and skates. The rest are pretty young; youngest I have is 4; the average is 4-8. Give them a couple more years and they will be everywhere.”

He wants quality equipment for these young skaters.

“There are so many terrible skateboards out there; they don’t roll good. When kids are coming here they have the proper stuff, and they are  learning properly.”

Anyone interested in taking lessons can contact Rayl via social media.

“All they have to do is reach out to me. I get ahold of Luke and he shows up right before lessons” and helps them pick out the supplies they need.

Rayl is grateful for the help that Luke Bryant has been in helping to get the the skate school on its feet, as well as proper instruction and equipment for the youth involved.

“He’s a really good dude, who went out of his way to help,” Rayl said. 

Editor’s note: Mary Lou Montgomery is Jason R. Fletcher’s aunt.

Jason R. Fletcher. Photo contributed by Jason Fletcher’s parents, Randy and Sarah Fletcher.