Big Hearts Under the Big Sky makes “Montana adventure” come true for five-year-old girl
“Montana Getaway” Experience Hosted by MOGA Member Donna and Jake McDonald of Upper Canyon Outfitters Big Hearts Under the Big Sky, a program of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA), recently completed their third of six “family adventures” scheduled for the year. The latest recipient was the family of Alex Allman, a five-yearold from Charlotte, n.C. who is fighting kidney cancer.
The Allman family’s “Montana Adventure” experience included a three-night stay on a functioning ranch at the upper reaches of the ruby river Valley. Activities included riding horses, fly fishing, 4x4 tours and enjoying local attractions. MOGA, through the Big Hearts program, provided the fully guided and fully outfitted trip to Alex and members of her immediate family as a 100 percent donation.
Big Hearts Under the Big Sky covers all the hard costs for qualifying families to participate in outfittersupported trips. Since 2008, the organization has served hundreds of individuals and their families and donated over half a million in services
“This trip came at the perfect time for Alex and our family.” said Jason Allman. “Alex had been found cancer free and received the “insurance” rounds of chemo a couple weeks before the trip began. This allowed her to fully enjoy the experiences and just be a little girl, something that seemed impossible to imagine a short time ago.”
On this trip, Alex and her family were led by Outfitter donna Mcdonald, one of the first female Outfitters licensed in Montana and a former President of MOGA. donna and her husband Jake have been on the ground floor of the Big Hearts under the Big Sky program and have hosted five prior Big Hearts trips over the years.
“Big Hearts under the Big Sky has once again helped connect our outfitting community with an incredible family,” commented Mcdonald. “every one of us here at Upper Canyon Outfitters has had our lives touched by this family.” She added, “The program lets families like the Allmans step into nature and forget about the unpredictable battles in life.”