How a Big Brother friendship changed the lives of a West Island man and teen

When 13-year-old Alex Bennett and his mentor Michael Netto get together, you wouldthink they were old friends.

As they play a one-on-one game of basketball, the pair are giggling, goofing offand almost always smiling.

"He teaches me some stuff, like, uh" Alex said.

Netto finishes his sentence with"How not to play basketball?"

The comment draws laughter from the pair, who have been hanging out on weekends for the last couple of months.

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Aside from basketball, the two share a passion for video gamesand they challenge each other at bowling.

From a very young age, Alex's family moved around every two years since both of his parents were in the military.

Following a divorce, Alex's mothersettled in Rigaud. But Christine McCarthy realized something was missing in her son's life.

"As I looked around me I noticed, really, except for my dad, it's just women," McCarthy explained. "I wanted somebody that Alex could talk to somebody that he could relate to."

"So I thought 'this poor kid, he needs a Big Brother.'"

Still a need for male volunteers

After hearing Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island was facing a shortage of male mentors, Netto decided to answer the call.

The organization is one of 40 non-profit agenciessupported by West Island Community Shares, thebeneficiaryof this year'sCBC Montreal Christmas Sing-In charity drive.

Netto was eventually paired up with Alexand the two first met at McCarthy's house.

They hit it off immediately.

"The first day we were together, we were just at the kitchen table giggling, and kind of glancing at each other, and giggling some more," Nettosaid. "It was a great match."

And their great pairing was no accident it took a year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island to find the right match for Alex.

The lackof male volunteers that inspired Netto to sign up still existsand the waiting list for children remains long. Out of 65 kids waiting for mentors, 52 of them areboys.

• Spending time with a Big Brother changes boy's life

"Some boys, unfortunately, are waiting up to two years," said Francesca Corso, the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island.

"I think we can all understand how long that is in the life of a child."

'The reward is enormous'

Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island still needs many more men to volunteer as mentors so they can shorten their waiting list.

Having a mentor can be transformative for kids in need, said Corso.

"When they realize that this person isn't paid to do it they don't have to do it they just want to, the children's faces just light up," Corso said.

"It gives them a certain sense of importance and belonging that maybe wasn't there before."

But Netto says his experience as a Big Brother has been just as enriching for him.

"I'm not just giving [Alex] a piece of who I am and my experiences, but I'm getting something back," Nettosaid. "The reward is enormous the self-fulfillment is huge."

"You're going to have a good time you're gonna have fun."

Although the pair joked about Netto's skills as a basketball coach, their time together has paid off.

Alex's basketball team won a tournament last weekend and the teen says histime on the court with Netto helped sharpen his skills.

He hopesto follow in Netto's footsteps and also become a Big Brother someday.

"This is very fun and I'd like to pass that on," Alex said.

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