Rayne Michel is only five years old, but she has already found a love for the Saskatchewan Rush.
Rayne, who resides north of Bienfait, was selected to be the TD Bank Junior Reporter of the Game for a recent Rush home contest. She interviewed Jeff Shattler about how long he’s been playing the game, why he loves being a member of the Rush, and his favourite food.
It wasn’t the first time she has been involved with the team, either.
Rayne’s great grandmother, Mae Lawrence, said Rayne’s connection to the Rush organization started last year. Rayne’s family was staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon, since Rayne’s sister was born prematurely, and was receiving care at the neonatal infant cure unit.
It was during their time at the Ronald McDonald House that Rayne was selected to be involved with the Rush.
“I cannot stress enough that if a person wants to donate money somewhere, do it to the Ronald McDonald House,” said Lawrence. “It is a fantastic place. So it is the Ronald McDonald charities that got her involved with this.”
In her first experience, she led the team onto the court as the honourary team captain. When the game was over and they had won, she was excited, but wasn’t allowed to celebrate with them on the court.
“The whole team was great with her. When she did this team captain thing, she was only four.”
Her family needed to return to Saskatoon earlier this year because her sister had an appointment. They were staying at the Ronald McDonald House once again. And even before they were in Saskatoon, the Rush called Rayne’s mother Robyn to find out when they were going to arrive, because they had arranged for Rayne to be the junior reporter.
“Of course, this little five-year-old girl was over the moon to see herself up on the jumbotron,” said Lawrence.
Lawrence applauded her great granddaughter’s maturity, noting that she spends lots of time around adults and older kids, more than with children her own age. And she believes it showed in her interview with Shattler.
Lawrence reiterated her praise for the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities.
“When you have a baby, and the family is staying there, when you leave, they give the baby a new quilt, a handmade quilt that people donate to the house.”
Both Rayne and her sibling also received a toy that had been donated previously.
