How 6-year-old raised $30K for cancer research

Ryan honors his friend Danny's memory with a hefty donation

MIAMI – Six-year-old Ryan McGuire aims to raise $40,000 in memory of a friend he met in his kindergarten class.

Danny Nickerson died April 24, after an 18-month battle with a rare form of brain cancer. Nearly a year before his death, his request for birthday cards made worldwide news and he reportedly received about 750,000.

Reporters showed up to watch Ryan play 100 holes of golf Wednesday at Norton's MGA Links at Mamantapett, a par-3 course. Wednesday reports said he raised 25,000, but on Thursday The Golf Fights Cancer site said he had raised $31,800.

" I just wanted to do it for Danny," Ryan said during an interview with The Sun Chronicle.

Ryan had a little help from his mom. For years, she has worked with Golf Fights Cancer, an organization that helps to raise money for research. Danny's doctor, Dr. Mark. W. Kieran, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, is the benefactor.

Follow Local10.com reporter Andrea Torres on Twitter @MiamiCrime