Our Ambassadors
Ryan Best
Early Life and Childhood Trauma
Isolation, Neglect, and Emotional Impact
From an early age, my life was shaped by instability and trauma. I grew up witnessing severe domestic violence between my parents.
Eventually, my father became involved in criminal activity and was sentenced to life in prison, leaving my mother and me to navigate an uncertain and often isolating childhood alone.
During my childhood, my mother struggled with alcoholism, and I experienced ongoing emotional abuse that left deep scars.
As an only child, I was often left to fend for myself, carrying a heavy sense of loneliness and fear. In my early teens, my mother developed a serious lung disease, resulting in frequent and extended hospital stays.
At times, I was alone for days or weeks, living in a constant state of anxiety. This manifested in severe behavioural problems, depression, and anger, with no support system to turn to.
A Defining Life-or-Death Moment
faith in a crisis
In my early twenties, everything intensified when my mother suffered a catastrophic asthma attack. She collapsed and died in front of me.
I performed CPR for sixteen minutes until the ambulance arrived, a moment that remains with me every day. Doctors told me she had a 0.01% chance of survival and that, if she lived, she would almost certainly be brain dead.
In that moment of absolute desperation, I prayed for the first time in my life. I did not know who I was praying to, but I prayed for a miracle.
Against all medical expectations, three months later my mother came off life support. She made a remarkable recovery. While she now has full speech and memory, she is bedbound and requires full-time care.
Rock Bottom & Self Destruction
loss and addiction
Following this period, I hit rock bottom. I lost all of my life savings and turned to alcohol and drug addiction as a way to escape the trauma and noise in my own head.
I would take any substance available to numb the pain. This eventually led to an unintentional overdose and caused serious strain on my relationship with my partner and my daughter.
Rebuilding, Searching & Giving Back
faith, discipline and purpose
Through fitness, structure, discipline, and accountability, I slowly rebuilt my life. I pulled myself out of addiction, regained control, and went on to create a successful business. Today, I have two incredible children, a loving partner, and a stable life that I am deeply grateful for.
Despite outward success, I still felt a void. There were unanswered questions and a sense that the suffering I had endured had to mean something more. I felt that there was a greater purpose behind the adversity I had faced.
Earlier this year, I found faith, and it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle. I am still working things out, but I truly believe God has aligned my experiences to bring me here today.
Sharing my story and supporting others through Tattoos and Tears is part of that purpose, using lived experience to offer hope, understanding, and connection to those who feel alone in their struggles.
Ambassador Challenge
On the 6-7th of June 2026 Ryan will be running the Lake District Ultra Challenge to raise money for Tattoos and Tears.
All Donations go to the work of Tattoos and Tears, supporting men and boys to navigate the challenges they face with, bullying, substance abuse, poor self worth and understanding what it means to be a man in the modern day.
We are using GoFundMe because it is more recognisable for those new to Tattoos & Tears, and you may feel more comfortable donating there, however, if you donate directly through our website we pay less fees and keep more of the money donated.
