Stayner resident and Dairy Queen employee Raymond Hardisty was the centre of attention at yesterday’s Blue Jays game as he threw the first pitch.
Hardisty first found out about his major league moment when he arrived to work a shift at Stayner Dairy Queen on July 26. He walked into a crowded lobby and came face-to-face with Blue Jays mascot Ace, who held out a phone. The voice on the phone was none other than Buck Martinez, who announced Hardisty would throw the first pitch at the Aug. 8 Blue Jays home game.
Hardisty was being recognized for his work raising $30,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network over the past nine years. The charity, which supports children’s hospitals, is near and dear to Hardisty’s heart because he spent many weeks at SickKids hospital for a bone marrow transplant and then later with a diagnosis of Graft Versus Host disease.
Hardisty, accompanied by Ace, threw the first pitch and then posed for photos yesterday. Click here to see a video of the pitch.
Today (Aug. 9) is Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen. A portion of proceeds from today’s sales will go to the Children’s Miracle Network.
