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Arbutus RV & Marine Sales a strong local community supporter across Vancouver Island has a created a new bond and partnership to a very important cause The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley

 From Big to Best Man 

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been in existence many years and there is no shortage of stories on the impact on the lives of those involved. The benefits are well-documented and time-proven through statistics and impact statements. What isn't always shared is the impact on the Big and the lifelong friendships that often develop or continue after the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization ends their support of a match

 BBBS matches Bigs to Littles who are six to sixteen years of age. When the Little turns eighteen BBBS officially ends their supervision of the match. This is not to say that the friendship cannot continue. Many matches do continue to keep in touch but few to the level of the friendship that developed between Jerry Hogg (the Big) and Bob Bolton (the Little); a match that began in 1987 between a 24-year-old mechanic, looking to augment his life, and the seven year-old son of a single mom.

Jerry Hogg Big Brother & Bob Bolton Little Brother in 1987

In September of 2001, a story appeared in the Cowichan News-Leader newspaper, entitled ‘Brothers For a Lifetime' (Sept. 26, 2001). It is a heart-warming story of the effect a young man had on a boy and the effect that boy had on the young man. The News-Leader story helped to celebrate 14 years of friendship culminating in the Little, now a young man himself, being asked to stand as Best Man at the wedding of his Big Brother Jerry Hogg. Now, five years later, the roles have been reversed. On August 5, 2006, almost 19 years to the day that they were matched, Jerry Hogg acted as Best Man for his very close friend and former Little Brother Bob Bolton.

 

 

We had the opportunity to visit with Jerry and Bob two days before the wedding. Also in attendance were Bob's mother, aunt, and grandmother and Jerry's wife and two year old son. It was obvious that Jerry is very much part of Bob's family now and Bobby expressed that feeling, as did his grandmother's comment, “We love them both very much”.  Jerry moved to Alberta in 2000 but, no matter where he is, the two of them always keep in touch.  What started out as a 20-minute walk between a potential Big and a Little has resulted in an incredible relationship. In our discussion, one of Jerry's first comments was,  “If I didn't have kids I'd be doing it again. Bobby helped straighten my life out a bit and I got a good friend out of it”. Bob's Aunt Joan supported Jerry's statement with; “It worked out really well for Bobby. It was good for both of them”.

Bob responded, “Jerry kept me going with the goals that I had. Dad was living in Williams Lake and I did have a Great Uncle nearby as well as my grandfather who did lots with me, but Jerry was someone who I could truly relate to, more than with a family or authority figure. He kept me on track. I never got into trouble because of this match”.  Bob's mom, Donna, made a comment that almost started the tears flowing: “The support they've given each other is important. When my dad passed away Jerry was there for Bobby”. To which Jerry replied; “ And when my dad passed away Bobby was there for me”.  Words cannot express the importance of this relationship between these two men.

Bob, Jerry and Jerry's Father

Bobby and Jerry did a variety of things together, including bashing around on the backroads in Jerry's modified '69 Volkswagon Bug (rust was a major feature of the modification), hunting, and hanging around in Ole Olsen's auto shop (Duncan). Chinese Food seemed to be one of the highlights of their relationship, though any food was to play a major part in their activities; even cold beans from the can in a half-built bush lean-to on Forestry lands where they once spent a very cold night. The activities were definitely a major part of their time together but just being available to each other was obviously an important element. The following two stories express that:   

Bobby: “ The year after Grandpa died there was a night when I had 10 acres of hay down and rain pending. I couldn't locate anyone to help until I called Jerry. I finished baling at 12:30 and, with Jerry's help, we had the hay in the barn by 2:30 AM. He was the only one available to help.

 Jerry: “ I had already moved to Alberta and Bobby made himself and his truck available to help my wife Michelle move the last load.  He helped pack up, and then had to spend $250.00 on repairs in Chilliwack before his truck expired for good at Bridal Falls. Michelle had to call her mom to rescue her, and Bobby stayed behind with the truck.

 Bobby's mom, when asked how she felt, made the simple but powerful comment; “this match was the best thing I ever did for my son”.

  

Fifty years from now it will not matter

What kind of car you drove,

What kind of house you lived in,

How much you had in your bank account,

Nor what your clothes looked like.

But the world may be a little better because

You were important in the life of a child.

 -Anonymous-