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She also tells stories of Baques Herrera attending practice with a kidney catheter, and she “still danced as hard as she could.”

There was a time they were driving home together from practice and Stone commented about how much she loved rolling down the windows so the wind could blow through her hair.

Baques Herrera pulled off her wig, rubbed her bald head, and quipped: “Me, too.”

“She has inspired and touched so many souls and I am so honoured to have had her in my life as a friend,” Stone explained.

“She taught me so many lessons and has brought me so much laughter and joy. She was spunky and sassy and was never afraid to express her authentic self.

“Mary is one of the strongest souls I know. Mary was always full of positive and fiery energy that was contagious. The rest of the season my teammates and I will dance in her honour. I know her spirit will always be with us.”

The Redblacks dance team used orange pompoms during their game last week against the visiting Montreal Alouettes as a tribute and it hit home with Severyn.

“For them to do a gesture like that is overwhelming and really heartfelt,” said Severyn. “It just reminded me of what a little community we have here with the dance teams around the league.”

According to her obituary, Baques Herrera was born in Mexico City and came to Vancouver as a 17-year-old, becoming a professional dancer with various troupes.

The Lions’ scoreboard video screen will show images of Baques Herrera to the crowd before the Felions’ first-quarter dance on Friday. The game, which starts at 7 p.m, will be televised on TSN.

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