Little Brother Taju and Big Brother Murdoc have been matched for two years in the Sports Buddies program. Murdoc feels very fortunate to have had a Big Brother when he was a kid and wanted to provide that same support to someone else. Murdoc recalls, “I first met 12-year-old Taju at the BBBSC office and immediately knew he was a great match. He is positive, energetic and has a wonderful enthusiasm for any sort of activity. While most of our first year was in quarantine, we have gotten to enjoy going to sports events, doing karate together, playing in all sorts of field events, and even winning a costume contest together.”
Murdoc has watched Taju mature in their interaction and conversation. Taju often says he wants to be like Murdoc, including become a physician and fostering and adopting a dog. Earlier this year, Taju won an essay contest hosted by Bradley Chubb, an NFL player for the Broncos, and the Chubb Foundation, in which he wrote about his desire to become a neurosurgeon and his love for helping others.
Taju and Murdoc are genuinely excited to see each other and love getting together for Sports Buddies activities, including flag football, golf, field games and the Juneteenth festival earlier this year. Taju continues to excel in all aspects of his life. He does very well in school, plays many sports, and always has a positive attitude.
Murdoc reflects on a recent Sports Buddies match activity: “Our experience is not unique. At a recent flag football event, there were roughly 25 matches in attendance. Nearly universally, I could see among the matches a closeness that perhaps I thought might have been special to me and Taju, or me and my Big. I’m now beginning to understand that when you don’t have a father around — which often sends young men on the wrong track — there is a natural desire to have a relationship with another caring male. BBBS helps fulfill that need to put many kids on a better path.“
Click here if you’d like to learn more about becoming a Big at BBBSC and making a difference in a child’s life.