​Michael Frame
13 year old Michael Frame from Zanesville OH, wish was to go to Alaska Caribou hunting so in September of 2005 he got his wish. This hunt has been Michaels dream for quite some time now and recently made a reality because of Benefit4Kids. Michael suffers from Langerhans cell Histiocytosis (LCH). In English, a person who suffers from LCH suffers from an uneven amount of white blood cells which then leads to many other problems, going as far as attacking the bone, if not detected. Michael is in remission currently and doing great!

Well, I got up at 3:00 A.M. and waited for Dean and Karen my grandma and grandpa to take Scott and I to Columbus International airport. I have never been on an airplane before so I was a little scared about that. But I was really excited about my hunt for caribou in Alaska. I got onto the airplane and was ready for the app. 17-hour trip. I was really surprised of the experience of going to airport to airport.

We had finally got to Bethel Alaska and met up with Don Lietzau of World Trek Safari. We went to the hanger to put our gear there for the night till the next morning so we could head out to the field and while we were there we met Wade Renfro of Renfro‘s Alaskan Adventures who was the outfitter for this hunt. Next we went to the Bed and Breakfast, the people who ran the Bed and Breakfast, Dr. Jane McClure and Dr. Bill Eggimann, where so kind and it was nice for them to have all of us there.

The next day we were ready to head out and by this point I was really excited to finally, after a year and a half, head into the tundra of Alaska to hunt. I flew out with Wade and Lou Limchayseng, who had booked a hunt with Wade also, for the hour flight. We got to my camp and I was about to meet one of the people I will never forget, and that would be Henry Duhaylongsod, who had helped raise money for my hunt so we had became best friends in a second. I was anxious to meet my guide, so then I meet Terry Mangold and his bother Tim Mangold who is also a guide for Wade. They both were very up to date on the caribou movement and safety. Terry and I hit it right off fast.

Don and Scott came about two hours later. I had been glassing for anything to move, and I looked over by Henrys gut pile and I see a big bear. I was excited because if I had seen something this quick I knew it was going to be a good hunt for sure. By the way I was going to be shooting a 50. Caliber T/C omega muzzleloader. So I went to bed early that night so I could get a good nights sleep.

The next day I got up and had a great breakfast and got a jump on the giant herd of caribou that Scott had spotted. We got our gear together and the chase was on! We had got closer to the herd and had spotted two good bulls. By this time my heart was pounding. Wouldn’t you know it the wind had changed so the herd had smelled us and ran down the mountain.

Then we decided to walk to what was called “The Knob”. The herd that we had been watching ran right down the side of the mountain. The one bull I had my eye on finally gave me a good look at him and I had realized that he had a tree limb in his rack so we all had a laugh about that. We had some more caribou come in but nothing was a shooter.

The next day we got up with spirits high. I had went down over the hill to look at the view of the river and realized that a parky squirrel was chasing me. I knew Terry wanted to shoot one to mount with his Bear Mount, so I slowly walked up and got him and he head shot it!

Later I had finally spotted a herd of caribou in the bottom in front of us. We had moved closer and had saw one nice bull. So Terry, Scott and Don who was video taping my hunt, and I got 160 yards from a herd of about 75 caribou, But the wind had change again and they had winded us. We went to leave for camp and I look behind us and there are about ten to fifteen caribou 300 yards but nothing would work out.

I got up the next day, and I knew I would shoot sometime but little did I know it was going to be today! We went to the river to take a look, and we saw a wolverine. That was cool to see but I had my eye set on a caribou. We get to the river and saw a lot of caribou and a wolf. We had seven cows close enough to get my heart pumping!

We then see the herd I took my bull out of and saw one good bull. It was 5:15 when I made the decision to make the two and a half-hour stalk straight up the mountain. We got to the herd and Terry, Don and I went up to the raise while Scott stayed back while we stalked 80 yards around a ledge to get a good angle to shoot. We stalked around and I got my gun up on my backpack and looked thought the scope and saw the bull! I didn't look at the rack at all. All of the hunt Terry told me behind the shoulder and spilt a hair. Don was right behind my shoulder video taping the shot. I was told to wait till he stood up and I did. He stood up and I shot. We got right up and ran to the sight. I had made an awesome shot! I wait for Scott to come up and I picked up the rack and I will never forget these next couple of minutes. By the time we got it gutted out, quartered out and packed up it was 7:30. We walk two and a half-hours in the dark “that was fun.”

A couple of days later we got picked up Wade came in the Mull and randy a pilot for wade came in the Super Cub to get us and our gear out. And went back to the hanger and I started cutting all the meat off the bone. The next day we flew out for Ohio. We got to the airport in Columbus Ohio and got hugs from mom, grandma, and grandpa!

Well I had a trip for a lifetime and it was because of Benefit4Kids! This is a great origination that helps sick kids and I think it is so cool they do that! I would love to say Thank You to everyone who made my hunt possible like... Steve Pray and family, Al Baggett, Don Lietzau, Terry Mangold, Henry Duhaylongsod, and Wade Renfro. Thank you once again to everyone…

Thank you goes out to all those involved with make this trip a reality for Michael. First off, thank you goes to Don Lietzau and World Trek Safaris Consultants and Wade Renfro from Renfro’s Alaskan Adventures. Both these men offer first class operations! This trip never would have been possible without these guys and a great deal of gratitude goes out to the both of them! I would also like to thank Kurt Norby and the entire Safari Club Alaska Chapter, Henry Duhaylongsod and his Dick Pacific employees, Gus and Geri Gillespie, Delano Lietzau from Wagon Wheel Kennels, and the band “Attention Deficit Disorder” for all sponsoring this hunt and making Michaels dream a reality! A big thank you goes out to the State of Alaska for donating Michaels tag and license, and Frank Pieper of Franks Taxidermy out of Eagle River Alaska for donating the time and effort to do a fabulous job on a mount so Michael can look up and see that mount everyday which will then trigger his memory to a flash back of this trip and keep that smile on his face for the rest of his life!

Daniel Myslivecek was a tough young man who battled Melanoma most of his life. Various treatments and medicines were tried but nothing seemed to make it go away. Daniel lost his battle with Melanoma on July 12th, 2006 at only 14 years old, but not before Daniel was able to travel to Colorado and harvest this beautiful Mule Deer and a Cow Elk!

​Christian Aders
9-year-old Christian suffers from Spina Bifida and has also lost the sight in one eye. Although he could easily give up and spend his life housebound in a wheelchair Christian won't let that happen. Christian says if he had good legs he would want to hunt whatever he could.

Benefit4Kids sent Christian hunting with Bluff Creek Ranch just north of Austin TX. Although they have about 8 different exotic animals he could hunt for he likes the picture of the 4-horned ram and that is what he went after!

A huge thank you goes out to Bluff Creek Ranch for helping Benefit4Kids with this young mans Wish. You can check out their operation at www.bluffcreekwildlife.com.

Christian arrived at the ranch with anticipation and excitement building as the first day of hunting came slowly for this young man. Wednesday morning, Christian wasn't even out hunting but a few hours and saw a real nice hog he wanted to take. Benefit4Kids threw in the hog as a bonus for Christian, and he jumped at the opportunity. Thanks to board member, Jim Reifert, Christian was not only able to surprise everyone and hold the gun by himself, but with the aid of Jim's Laser sight he sent down for Christian to use, Christian was able to pull the trigger HIMSELF and harvest his first wild boar with only 1 shot!!!! Before this hunt took place, we were told someone would have to help Christian hold the gun, and probably pull the trigger for him.

Bluff Creek sprung a surprise on everyone and set up a special pig roast in Christians honor with his first hog! The smile on this kids face was from ear to ear and while talking to his grandmother on the phone, she hardly understood a word he said because he was talking a mile a minute from excitement!!

Later that week, Christian was once again able to pull off something nobody thought he could do once again, and that was live his dream of shooting a 4 horned ram.... ALL BY HIMSELF!!!!!! I don't have all the details on this story, but do know enough to put a huge smile on my face and warm feeling inside my heart knowing another less fortunate child was able to live their dream because of people like you who are the ones that gives Benefit4Kids the ability to make dreams like this come true!

A huge Thank You goes out to Bluff Creek Ranch who donated this hunt for Christian, and our Nationwide States Director Jason Miller for his help and information in helping Christian live his dream!

​Lyle Garvey

16-Year-Old Lyle Garvey from Pensyvania who suffers from an inoperable brain tumor will be heading to Colorado in his quest for a big Bull Elk. He'll be hunting with an outfitter who has helped B4K in the past and I have no doubt he'll have numerous chances to realize his dream of harvesting a nice bull.

Sponsoring Lyle in his dream of taking a Colorado Elk with his RECURVE BOW is the guys and gals from the Michigan Traditional Bowhunters group.

Steve and I recently attended their banquet in Holland MI and were taken back by the tremendous support and donations from them!! From a gathering of about 80 people that night, these people opened their hearts and wallets to Benefit4Kids and helped raised more than enough funds to send Lyle on his wish hunt this fall!!

I would like to personally thank the members and board of directors of the Michigan Traditionals Bowhunters organization and look forward to a long a rewarding relationship with Benefit4Kids!!

Look for an upcoming article in the Michigan Traditional Bowhunters publication about Lyle's hunt also. Specific details are still being worked out and we will let you know where Lyle will be hunting as soon as those details are available

Lyle is like no kid we have ever granted a wish to before, between wanting to hunt Elk with his recurve (knowing his chances are very slim) and now wanting a combination camping/hunting trip. You see Lyle doesn't really want to go through an outfitter, but would rather go hunting with Benfit4Kids board member Jim Reifert! Jim heads to South West Colorado every fall for a month elk hunting (must be nice eh), and so Lyle and his dad will be joining Jim for a week chasing Elk through the Mountains of South West Colorado in mid to late September!

Lyle and his dad will be making the trip from PA on Thursday the 15th, to Colorado where they will meet up with Steve Pray, John McIntosh, Jim Reifert, and many others on a very special Elk hunting trip! This trip is going to be very special and one to keep checking on as I will hopefully be doing a semi live update throughout the trip, as I get updates from Colorado throughout the week! Good luck everyone, especially you Lyle! Show them old guys how it's done bud!

Despite many hard efforts and close calls, Lyle wasn't able to connect with a Colorado Elk, but had a blast chasing them throughout the mountains and being in camp with many great guys for a week! Many elk were sighted and called in including one Jim called in, a record book 7x7 one afternoon, but as luck would have it.... the opportunity just never presented it's self to Lyle!

Upon leaving camp, Lyle and his dad talked about what a great time they had even though they were going home without a trophy, because the memories and experience would last them a lifetime!

Thank you to the Michigan Traditional Bowhunters organization for your support and in sponsoring this trip! It's because of people and organizations like yourself that we are able to continue putting the smiles on the faces of these kids!