ALMYRA, Ark. (AP) - For Trey Miller, the owner of Bayou Bread Hunting Lodge in Almyra, helping other people get involved in the outdoors is a natural for him - what now feels like is a mission for him to do.
Miller, a Louisiana native, moved to Arkansas a little over seven years ago. He enjoys the area because of the duck hunting, fishing and other hunting available across the Grand Prairie.
“I do all kinds of hunting during the fall and winter,” Miller explains. “In the offseason I love to fish.”
The Stuttgart Daily Leader (https://bit.ly/1SioNJ8 ) reports that a little over a year ago, something in his life changed him forever. His father, Dutch Miller, died after being diagnosed six months earlier with cancer. Miller realized then that his life’s meaning had changed. He inherited his love for the outdoors from his father, as well as his grandfather, Donald Miller.
Miller decided that he wanted to do something for people and give back to the community with the love of hunting that he has grown up with.
“I wanted to give back and make a difference,” Miller said. “I realized that maybe I could do something for kids.”
After his father died, Miller began growing his hair long, longer than it normally was, searched for a website that he was comfortable in giving his hair to and chose Wigs 4 Kids, based in Michigan. Wigs 4 Kids advertises to be committed to improve a child’s quality of life by helping them deal with the appearance-related side effects of the treatment and to help build self-esteem.
The young patients are dealing with hair loss as result from various illnesses such as cancer, alopecia, trichotillomania as well as a result of burns.
“I just kept searching for something to do with children, since I have one of my own, too,” Miller said. “So then I had another idea.”
Miller, who had already had the idea of the hunting lodge and that idea was becoming a reality, decided to follow through and offer free duck hunting for terminally ill children.
“All they have to provide is the traveling expenses,” Miller said. “I supply the rest.”
The feeling that would be the least he could do for a young child or teenager who is facing the last stages of life and wanted to do something in the outdoors, Miller explained.
“The lodge is self-sustaining and open all year long,” Miller said. “The lodge is open for other things, such as training dogs and can be used in a variety of ways.”
Bayou Bread Hunting Lodge, which has 2,400 square foot, a fireplace, custom bar, four bathrooms with showers and a sleep capacity of 17 visitors.
“We can use it as a reception area, birthday parties and events of all kinds,” Miller said.
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Information from: The Stuttgart Daily Leader, https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/
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