IN Lymphoma boy's moose hunt
The Times, Munster, IN “Personal View”
letters@nwitimes.com
To The Editor:
Compassionate people around the world were saddened upon learning of
the ten-year-old boy with lymphoma whose wish was to hunt and kill a
moose with his father. We are saddened not only for the boy, but also
for the harmless animals who will be needlessly stalked and killed to
provide the boy and his father a few moments of recreation. How ironic
it is that when faced with a life-threatening illness this child has
chosen to kill a healthy animal that poses no threat to him or anyone
else. How tragic that those who love and care for him support his
decision.
Instead of teaching that wild animals value their lives as much as he
values his own, the boy’s parents are encouraging him to kill. When
given the opportunity to explain that life is precious and fragile, the
adults he trusts most have encouraged him to inflict unnecessary
violence and cruelty against the natural world. In trying to honor and
respect the boy’s life, the adults around him are exhibiting a sad
disrespect for the lives of wild animals and in so doing are teaching
him a terrible lesson; that nature and wildlife exists to be exploited
and destroyed to provide fleeting moments of recreation. If the boy
loves wilderness, nature and wildlife, he could be gifted with a quality
camera and sent on a trip to shoot an amazing photograph of a moose,
thereby respecting the animal’s life while sharing a trip of a lifetime
with those close to him. How sad that the boy may never know what it is
to truly respect wildlife and nature. How sad that the boy’s wish is to
increase the sum total of violence, suffering and pain in the world. How
sad that this is not being questioned.
We hope that those who take part in making the dream of a moose hunt
become reality will one day understand that a moose’s life is also
precious; as precious to the moose as the boy’s life is to the boy and
his family. Our wish is that one day mankind can live in peaceful and
respectful co-existence with wildlife instead of looking upon nature’s
wonders as nothing but moving targets.
Compassionate people all over the world wish for the boy’s speedy
recovery, but sadly this is a story that appears to have no happy
ending.
Joe Miele, Vice President
Wildlife Watch, Inc.
Chesterton boy to go on a hunt of a lifetime
Golf outing to help group sending kid to Canada
BY JOYCE RUSSELL
joycer@nwitimes.com
219.762.1397, ext. 2222
09/08/07
Tyler Gengnaggle has been hunting with his dad, Scott, since he was 2
years old.
He had to take a break from his adventures a few years ago when the
now 10-year-old Chesterton boy was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Thanks to the organization Hunt of a Lifetime, Tyler soon will be
able to pursue his passion again, this time hunting moose in British
Columbia, Canada.
"He's excited. He's ecstatic," his mom, Karen, said, adding that
Tyler's previous hunting has been limited to white-tailed deer.
Next week, Bass Pro Shop in Portage is sponsoring a golf outing to
benefit the nonprofit group that grants wishes to children under 21
years of age who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Karen Gengnaggle said her son was diagnosed in July 2004 when doctors
found an extremely large tumor behind his spleen that was crushing other
internal organs. Tyler underwent chemotherapy for 14 months and, for the
last two years, has been in remission.
Karen Gengnaggle said her mother works at Bass Pro and learned about
Hunt of a Lifetime during the store's fall classic event. The family
applied on Tyler's behalf and he was recently accepted into the program.
Originally, Karen Gengnaggle said, Tyler wanted to go moose hunting
in Alaska, but that couldn't be arranged and plans now are to send him
and his dad to British Columbia.
Tyler is receiving another wish, Bass Pro Promotion Manager Kelly
Hipskind said. In December, he will go hunting in Columbus, Ind., with
Bass Pro founder John Morris and NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Tony Stewart.
Karen Gengnaggle said she understands Tyler's Columbus outing will be
televised on the Outdoor World cable television channel.
The golf outing on Wednesday, Hipskind said, will raise funds for
Hunt of a Lifetime and will offer several prizes. It begins at 10 a.m.
at Brassie Golf Club in Chesterton. A $100 per golfer entry fee provides
18 holes of golf, lunch, two drinks, a golf shirt, a free round of golf
at the course and evening hog roast with DJ. A hole-in-one contest
offers golfers a chance at a $30,000 boat and a new Toyota truck.
Other prizes include a 2008 Brassie membership, a bicycle and a Lake
Michigan fishing excursion.
For more information on the outing, call Mary Highlan or Lisa Spencer
at Bass Pro Shops at (219) 787-6800.
Copyright © 2007 nwi.com
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