GoFundMe created for Monterey County veteran killed in motorcycle crash
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Family and friends are mourning the loss of a Salinas veteran who was killed in a motorcycle crash Monday night.
His main objective in life was to give back to those in need and make sure veterans had access to the resources they needed, said his family.
“Anything he could do to make anyone's life better,” said Jesse Sparks-Musones, Ryan Spark’s brother. “To make sure that you are good before he was regardless of how he felt.”
Sparks worked as a Healthcare Navigator with a veterans organization, called Nation's Finest. He also took steps to prevent veteran suicides and never stopped helping, said his family.
“He kept giving, he kept showing up and he volunteered for everything he did,” said Stephanie Sparks, Ryan Sparks’s wife. “He had a way of communicating with people. He could relate to anyone, no matter age, race, religion."
Ryan Sparks was always the first to volunteer to escort fallen veterans on his motorcycle. He also helped raise money for the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery in Seaside. Sparks’s mom Jo Ann Brokamp said he was striving to be a liaison for veterans and about to get ready to start working on his master’s degree in human services.
“To increase his knowledge on how he could be a further help to the community,” said Brokamp. “And how he can reach out to help more people, and he just couldn't get enough education in, in bettering himself to be able to help others.”
The Sparks family created a go fund me page. According to the fundraiser, his wife will need to take time off work not only to grieve but to support their two boys. The money will help with funeral expenses, bills, and help financially support the boys until they are 18.
So far the community has donated more than $32,000 to support the family during this difficult time. But the Sparks family wants all veterans to know that help and resources are available.
“There are tons and tons and tons of resources for the veterans,” said Angel Musones, Ryan Sparks's father. “People just have to speak about it. And even if you don't know anything about the resources, ask in you'll find them there. They're everywhere.”
Veterans can visit Veterans Crisis Line to know more about available resources.
