Raymond Hardisty arrived at his job at Dairy Queen to much fan fair earlier this afternoon.
"This is no ordinary work shift," said Hardisty, as he looked around at television cameras, news reporters and a packed lobby full of cheering people. Not to mention the Blue Jays mascot Ace, standing at Hardisty's side.
"Hi mom," he said, noticing his mom at one of the tables.
Then there was a phone call for him. Ace held out a phone in speaker mode.
"This is Buck Martinez," came the voice from the other end.
Hardisty looked right at the camera with eyebrows raised and mouthed the word "wow."
Martinez, the Blue Jays team announcer, did what he does best and delivered an announcement. Hardisty had been chosen to throw the first pitch at the Aug. 8 Blue Jays versus Red Sox game in Toronto.
Hardisty was floored. He grinned from ear to ear and said thank you at least a dozen times.
"Me and my dad were just talking about Buck Martinez at home," said Hardisty. His dad was in on the surprise more than a month in the making. "We love the movie Uncle Buck and we said, 'I wonder if he's an uncle to somebody?'"
The surprises kept on coming as Hardisty received his own Jays jersey, a baseball glove and ball.
"Fits like a glove," said Hardisty.
The shower of gifts and cheers were because of Hardisty's dedication over the years to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. He has raised more than $30,000 for the charity.
"Every kid deserves to live a full life," he said at his surprise event.
Hardisty relied heavily on SickKids hospital as a child. He was diagnosed with leukemia at 4 years old, and received a bone marrow transplant just before his fifth birthday. When he got home from the hospital, his parents got him a Toronto Blue Jays birthday cake to celebrate.
At six years old, Hardisty was diagnosed with Graft versus Host disease as a result of his transplant, which has permanently impacted his joint mobility. In 2000, Hardisty was recognized as a Miracle Treat Day Champion Child.
Hardisty has worked at Dairy Queen in Stayner since 2008. His boss and the restaurant owner/operator Sherry Schaap told him he was an angel in the community and praised his hard work and dedication both at his job and for the Children's Miracle Network.
