IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - One cross country runner at Iowa was selected to a national program that recognizes student athletes for the impact in their communities through service and leadership. The senior wanted to pay it forward after being on the other side of hospital visits.

When Will Ryan was a sophomore in high school at Dowling Catholic, he fell ill to the point where doctors could not treat him in Des Moines. He was then transferred to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City.

“I lost about 15 pounds because I couldn’t eat or drink for about a week. I didn’t have 15 pounds to lose. I was just a skinny sophomore cross country athlete,” he explained.

Ryan went from running 50 miles a week, to calling it a success when he could walk a lap around the hospital.

“It was an a

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