Remy and Kadir were first matched in the Sports Buddies program back in 2010. Both are thoughtful, kind, open, and funny. What makes this match so special is not what they’ve done together, but instead, the commitment they have made to each other in the last 8 years. Kadir once said, “Over the years the topics of our conversations changed but they never ended. We talk about anything and everything. We just like to hang out as brothers.”
Kadir never had specific goals for Remy, but he knew that the most important thing he could do as his Big was to encourage and support him in any and all of his endeavors. When Remy was younger, Kadir invited him to join him for a CrossFit workout. Remy was hesitant, but Kadir encouraged him and shared how CrossFit could help him become a better football player. Remy eventually got into it and committed himself to it, learning both the value of hard work and the importance of committing to something that can help you succeed.
The two also like to have serious conversations about life over coffee, attend sporting events, and enjoy all things outdoors that Colorado has to offer. Remy has grown into a strong, confident, respectful, and hardworking young man. He currently attends Western State Colorado University as a freshman, majoring in business and marketing, on both academic and athletic scholarship.
Kadir has not only been generous with his time, but he has also been generous with his creativity and resources. Together, the pair worked through school tuition issues and custody issues. Kadir is persistent in his support, and he is diligent in creating space for Remy to learn and ask questions. When asked what it meant to have Kadir in their lives, Remy’s mom shared, “Having a Big Brother means that your child has another person in their life helping you to raise them and expose them to the world. There is nothing that can replace that experience for your child.” Remy thinks the world of Kadir because he is wise, encouraging, dependable, and a great example of what it means to be a strong and quality person. Kadir has been more than a mentor to Remy, “He’s a mentor when I need one, and he’s a friend when I need one…and he’s cool all of the time.”