Support Our Family Trip to Honor her Father’s Memory

Ryan Moody Start Date: Apr 14, 2025 - End Date: Aug 13, 2025

My Travel Story

by: Ryan Moody Start Date: Apr 14, 2025 - End Date: Aug 13, 2025
My name is Ryan and I’m reaching out with a heartfelt request. I want to take my wife and our little boy to Italy this September...not for a vacation, but for something far deeper: a journey of remembrance, healing, and connection.

My wife’s father was born and raised in Italy. Though she wasn’t born there herself, his stories, traditions, and love for his homeland were passed down to her in countless ways. Sadly, he passed away several years ago, and while time has moved on, the ache of that loss still lingers.

She never had the chance to see Italy through his eyes. The towns he called home, the places that shaped him. This trip is a way to change that. It’s a chance to honor his memory by finally walking the streets he once walked, visiting the places that held his heart, and introducing our son to the culture that helped define his grandfather’s life.

We’re planning a 6-7 day trip from Pittsburgh to Rome and Florence. We’ve created a careful, modest budget for airfare, family-friendly lodging, food, and transportation. But the cost is around $6,000 and is more than we can comfortably afford right now. That’s why I’m asking for your help. Our goal is to do this before I have my entire elbow rebuilt from a worn injury which will leave me recovering for approximately 7 months. 

If you’ve ever lost someone and felt a pull to reconnect with what they left behind, you understand how meaningful this is. Every donation brings us closer to this important journey. not just for my wife, but for our son, who deserves to feel the roots of his family story and past.

We’ll share updates, photos, and our deepest thanks along the way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, supporting, and helping us turn this long-held dream into a healing reality. After suffering a loss in our immediate family, recently, this would be nothing short of heart healing.