Meet at Past Match: Marg & Cody - Together for over 25 years!

 Marg & Cody 

(Photos were taken by Daniel Cullen Photography)

Story by: Krista Webb

Marg and Cody’s story is truly inspiring.  They were first matched back in 2000, when Cody was just 10 years old and Marg was old enough to be his grandmother. But despite the age difference between the pair, their relationship blossomed right after they met. Flash-forward 16 years, and Marg and Cody still have a really special relationship. So special, in fact, that last year Cody moved in with Marg and her husband, Roger, and he refers to Marg as his “grandma”. 

Their relationship has been different than most matches since the very beginning. Cody was a sweet, kind, sensitive young boy who loved having an adult friend to hang out with just him for an hour every week. Marg, who is a very kind and caring woman, got along with Cody right off the bat. They talked, drew pictures, painted, played cards, and made up fun games. 

Marg and Cody’s In-School Mentoring match was closed when Cody finished grade 7, but their relationship didn’t stop there. They continued to see each other outside of school, and soon became a part of each other’s families. Marg would watch Cody’s hockey games and take him to baseball games and wrestling matches, and Cody would spend time at Marg and Roger’s cottage. 

Cody only has nice things to say about Marg and how she’s affected him. “She’s been a constant presence in my life. To this day she’s one of the only people I can count on.”

Marg and Roger have mentored many in their lives, and they’ve invited quite a few non-family members to live with them over the past 40 years, so it’s really no surprise that Marg’s non-biological Little Brother now lives with her and her husband in Port Perry. Roger has also become an unofficial mentor to Cody over the years, and Cody looks up to him a lot, too.

Marg acknowledges that Cody wasn’t the only one getting something out of their match. “It’s very rewarding to see someone grow up and do well, when it could have gone so differently,” says Marg. Cody says that he thinks his life would have been “1,000 % different” if he had never met Marg. He admits he got into some trouble in high school and knew he was going down a bad path, but when he decided to change his ways, it was partially due to the fact that he didn’t want to disappoint Marg and Roger. 

Marg has encouraged Cody to continue his education, and he has plans to attend Durham College in the fall for the Fitness and Health Promotion program. Marg is so proud of the young man Cody has become. They both agree that Marg gave him confidence, and by supporting him in whatever he did, she has helped shape him into the person he is today. 

If you're interested in learning more information about the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs, please call Cheryl Doyle at 905-985-3733 ext 2, or visit www.BigBrothersBigSisters.ca/NorthDurham.

Guest Blogger: Big Sister Lauren Walker

Written by Lauren Walker

What does it take to be a Big Sister?

Nothing special.

What kind of person can be a Big Sister?

Anyone.

What skills do you need to be a Big Sister?

Nothing in particular.

Will one day a week really make a difference?

Absolutely.

    These are the questions I asked myself before I became an in-school mentor back in 2012. The lesson I learned was that you never know until you try. I always thought you needed to have some special quality in order to make a difference. Turns out all the skills you really need, you already possess.

                That’s the thing about spending time with a child. You’ll soon learn they are very accepting and only expect you to be yourself. You don’t need to wear fancy clothes or have a high paying job to share what you know. You don’t need to be any particular age to share your experiences. For me it’s as simple as taking the time out of your day to make a positive change. Every child needs a friend to talk to and to have someone listen. It’s really just as simple as that.

                Just imagine when you were a kid. How awesome would it have been to have someone like that in your life? We’ve all struggled. There were times we could have used a friend to help us. Being a child today is a lot harder than we realize. The world is ever changing and the one thing that can be a constant for these kids is you. The time you spend together is the one thing they look forward to because they just get to be themselves too.

                I wish I had become a Big Sister a long time ago. I waited and hesitated because I didn’t really think I could do it. I believe that change really does start with one person. It could start with you making that choice to do something like this. You really do have the power to change and impact someone’s life. Don’t hesitate. Just imagine that one day a week you spend will contribute to building a child’s self confidence. When they grow up they will look back and remember that you, a perfect stranger, cared enough to make time for them. They will remember that you believed in them. It takes one person to set a child on the right course in life.

                Everyone has the power to be a role model. It’s a ripple effect. When you make a positive difference in a child’s life, you will inspire them to do the same for others. It’s one small way of making the world a better place. It all starts with you.

Lauren Walker

Big Sister Since 2012 

If you're interested in learning more information about our mentoring programs, please call Cheryl Holmes at 905-985-3733 ext 2.  

Guest Blogger: Past Big Sister, Saige Harrison

Written by Saige Harrison

Saige & April

My name is Saige, my wonderful little sister’s name is April and this is our story. I grew up in Port Perry with one older brother, always wanting a sister. April also grew up in the Port Perry area with two older sisters. April’s eldest sister Nicole and I attended Port Perry high school together and I met April a few times when she was really little. 

When April was 7 years old, her middle sister Carrie passed away. In August 2010 when April was 9 years old, Big Brother Big Sister of North Durham (BBBSND) enriched my life by finding my PERFECT little sister match with her. After the first time I met April, I knew it was meant to be, we even look like sisters! I soon started doing In-School Mentoring with April a few times a week on top of hanging out all the time outside of school. We lived 2 minutes down the street from one another and in no time we were pretty much inseparable.  April and I grew an unbreakable sister bond that I am forever grateful to BBBSND for. April’s other sister Nicole and mother Jennifer also became a big part of my life and now they are my family too, blood or not. 

We are no longer a part of the BBBS program as April is now in high school but she is still a huge part of my life. I moved to Alberta for a little while for work, and that did not stop us!! April has been to Alberta 3 times to visit me, we traveled all over the Rocky Mountains together and she even got to see the Tim Horton’s camp her sister Carrie went to out here.

 I will be moving back to Ontario soon and a big part of the reason is because of how much I miss my sister, but no matter where I am in this world April will forever be an important part of my life. She is the most loving, thoughtful and kind sister I could have asked for. And even though she is the “little”, she has taught me so much over the years and has benefited my life as much as I have hers, if not more. 

She has made my life better, happier, brighter and I can’t imagine life without her now. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that your organization does and for bringing her into my life. 

BBBSND brought us together but now NOTHING will tear us apart!!

If you're interested in learning more information about our mentoring programs, please call Cheryl Holmes at 905-985-3733 ext 2.