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35| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,July 5,2018 theifp.ca Visit www.georgetownsoccerclub.com today for details! Visit georgetownsoccerclub.com today for details! MARK YOUR CALENDAR! • U8-U12 Rep coaching applications due July 15th • U13-Adult Rep coaching applications due August 15th • Indoor registration begins end of August • U8-U12 RepTeam ID Day Sept 9th atTrafalgar Sports Park • U13-Adult RepTryouts Sept 29th & 30th atTrafalgar Sports Park A new cemetery for the general public is taking shape for residents in Halton Hills and their families. Devereaux Cemetery is located in a quiet country setting on the 17th Side Road, just west of Trafalgar Road. It's adjacent to the Holy Redeemer Cemetery and open to people of all religious faiths. Contact us for information about available interment options, either at time of need or in advance. 905-877-8500 l www.devereauxcemetery.ca Owned and operated by The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Hamilton A recent trip to the Rogers Centre in Toronto with her Cen- tennial Public School class- mates to watch the Blue Jays should have been a carefree field trip for Grade 7 student and big baseball fan Marjie Snow. But the 12-year-old had some important business to attend to before the game against the Los Angeles Angels in a Thursday matinee school day promotion. She had been selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and was quite concerned that it would either fall short or sail over pitcher/designated catch- er Joe Biagini's head. "I was really impressed with myself. (Biagini) called it a strike down the middle," said Snow, who was accompanied to the mound by Blue Jays' mascot Ace and her good friend Abby Harris. "We had a really good day even if the Jays lost." Toronto got thumped 8-1 by the Angels and Snow had hoped to meet her favourite player, Marcus Stroman, but he was away from the team on an inju- ry rehab assignment. Not a big deal, she remarked with a wide grin. However, the past few months have been painful for Snow, diagnosed with diabetes nine years ago, as well as coping with arthritis that has prevent- ed her from catching the school bus a few mornings and kept her from returning to the Hal- ton Hawks' rep fast-pitch pro- gram, although she is playing part time with a house league team, preferably at first or third base. Centennial principal Joyce Jermyn said she's never heard Marjie complain or get upset over her situation when she needs medication or has to tend to blood-sugar levels. At times Snow needs to use a wheelchair like on the day of the trip to the Jays' game, which was organized by Kelly Kil- bride, a former teacher of hers at Centennial. "In front of 43,000 people, I don't know if I could've thrown a strike," laughed her proud mother Jen Charter, Marjie's house fast-pitch coach and an avid softball player herself. "She really needed it, and as much as Marjorie is such a lead- er and has a smile on her face all the time, she was getting a little down and tired of being arthrit- ic and had enough of every- thing. So at my end I'm asking, 'What do I do to bring her out of this?' and that day totally changed things around. She's doing great now." Snow said she's still coming to grips with the sudden passing of her father Brian in January 2017 at the age of 45. A popular figure in the local sports community, Snow is also survived by three stepdaugh- ters and Marjie is referred to as Mini Brian due to their resem- blance. When Charter was unable to coach Marjie's team a couple of years ago due to work commit- ments, Brian stepped in to vol- unteer. As a tribute to him last year, players on two Hawks' teams wore "Coach Brian" on the sleeves of their uniforms. Marjie says she'd like to play hockey as her dad did, but her health issues make it difficult, so she watches games on TV to remind her of him. "I've been through a lot and I've just kind of learned to deal with the facts," she added. "He's not coming back but I'm not going to forget him. That was my problem at first, that 'Oh no, I'm going to forget him.' My mom and my grandparents and my family around me have helped me realize that you're not going to forget if you have us, so that's really helped." Charter said her daughter recently started using a "life- changing" OmniPod insulin pump to better manage the dia- betes and the goal is that she'll be self-sufficient and indepen- dent when she starts high school next year. Physiotherapy sessions are helping with the ar- thritis and the Hawks' organiza- tion has been doing a lot of pinch-hitting for the family as well. "I like to say that we've built a tribe to be able to support her," Charter added. "We lost a pillar of support with Brian's passing, so the sporting community has stepped in and made sure she's been able to play and get to games. There are so many peo- ple who do so much for us it's in- credible. I can't thank every- body enough." Georgetown youth stares down adversity with first-pitch strike EAMONN MAHER emaher@theifp.ca Twelve-year-old Marjie Snow threw out the first pitch at a recent Toronto Blue Jays' game against the Los Angeles Angels at the Rogers Centre. She tossed a strike to Jays' pitcher Joe Biagini with some guidance of the club's mascot, Ace. Michelle Prata photo @YOUR LEISURE Visit theifp.ca for more coverage