Thirteen-year-old Emma Raithby is the eldest sibling of three, but through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of 91原创 (BBBSL) program, she was able to find a Big Sister match for herself.
鈥淚鈥檓 the eldest out of three kids and I needed someone I could hang out with and talk to,鈥� said Raithby, who lives in Walnut Grove.
Two years ago, Raithby signed up with BBBSL and it took about three months to get paired with the perfect match 鈥� 鈥楤ig鈥� sister Lee-Anne Kelleher.
Despite an almost 30-year age difference, the pair has discovered they share many similarities such as humour, enjoying walks, working on art projects, and much more.
For Kelleher, who lives in 91原创, the BBBSL program has a special place in her heart, as her 22-year-old son had his own 鈥楤ig鈥� brother from age eight to 18.
鈥淚 see the impact my son鈥檚 big brother had in his life and I always said if I have the time I鈥檒l give back, and now my son is 22 so I鈥檓 trying to honour what I said I鈥檇 do and I鈥檓 loving it. I think I鈥檓 getting more out of it than Emma,鈥� said Kelleher.
Years ago, Kelleher enrolled her son in the program because she became a single mother when her baby was 19 months old.
鈥淚 enrolled my son because he lost his dad at 19 months. I decided I wanted someone in his life who he could go to that had no connection to me,鈥� explained Kelleher.
鈥淪till to this day, my son is 22 and he鈥檚 been graduated from the program for four years and they still keep in contact.鈥�
And now with time to dedicate to having a 鈥楲ittle,鈥� Kelleher said she鈥檚 been able to reconnect with a younger version of herself.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see the world through a young girl鈥檚 eyes again. Emma鈥檚 getting me into hobbies again which is really nice. I can鈥檛 say there is anything I haven鈥檛 liked about the process so far. I鈥檇 highly recommend it. It was instrumental in my son鈥檚 life. As important as it is for a child to have a mentor, it鈥檚 just important for an adult to have someone.鈥�
The sister duo recalled their first outing together 鈥� a day at the beach in White Rock 鈥� and acknowledged that getting to know one another can feel awkward at first.
鈥淲hen we first started out, our first outing was a beach in White Rock, so getting her [Emma] to talk 鈥� she was really shy, but now she likes to talk,鈥� Kelleher explained.
And sure enough, with time, Kelleher and Raithby have become close friends who enjoy scrap-booking, bowling, watching the TV series 骋谤别测鈥檚 Anatomy, and having friendly competitions. They aim to meet up once every week or two.
Finding a perfect match did take some time, as Raithby met with two other 鈥楤igs鈥� before being paired with Kelleher.
鈥淎s soon as I met Lee-Anne I said 鈥榯his is the one.鈥� With Lee-Anne, I trust her,鈥� added Raithby.
Raithby and Kelleher agreed their favourite day together was spending the afternoon at PlayLand.
鈥淓mma got me to face some of my fears. Emma has no fear so she dragged me around from ride to ride and I felt like a kid again. I鈥檓 teaching her a lot of things, but I鈥檓 learning so much as well,鈥� said Kelleher.
Neither can imagine the friendship ending any time soon, and after Raithby graduates and ages out of the program, Kelleher said the friendship will simply 鈥渃ontinue on.鈥�
鈥淚n the beginning it was my pay it forward thing, but now I don鈥檛 want it to end. It starts out as a contract, but it becomes so much more. I can鈥檛 imagine my friendships with my girlfriends ending, and I can鈥檛 see this ending either,鈥� she added.
To raise money for the BBBSL, the organization is hosting a brand new Great Gatsby themed gala called the Big Deal Charity Gala on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Ideally the gala aims to fundraise about $60,000 for the program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a new fundraiser for our agency. It鈥檚 replacing the Bowl for Kids Sake event that we had been running for almost the last 30 years, so we鈥檙e excited to be trying something new,鈥� said Roslyn Henderson, Big Brothers Big Sisters 91原创鈥檚 executive director.
The gala includes food, entertainment, and a game show that is similar to the TV series Deal or No Deal, complete with prizes valued between $1,000-$3,000.
Big Deal Charity Gala is being held on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online:
For more information call 604-530-5055.
