Lawrence County Press
January 2002
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The Georgia Pacific Monticello Mill paired up with “Catch-A-Dream,” Friday and Saturday to help make a dream for a 14 year old Newton County teenager.
Ashley May, of Conehatta was treated to a deer hunt and the use of the mill’s guest house Friday night. She killed her first buck during the hunt.
Ashley killed two bucks during the weekend hunt, the first, an 8 point at a range of about 125-130 yards. The second was a six point at a range of about 100 yards.
She was diagnosed in March with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, a form of leukemia and has been taking chemotherapy since.
She likes to be outdoors playing softball and hunting, fishing and riding 4 wheelers and horses. She killed her first doe last year.
She was elected freshman homecoming maid in October while she was at St. Jude’s receiving treatment.
Ashley was diagnosed with cancer when her back began to hurt last March. She thought she had hurt it lifting weights to get in shape for fast pitch softball, but when the pain persisted, she went to the doctor and the diagnosis was made after many tests.
Through her ordeal, Ashley passed the 8th grade and is maintaining all A’s in ninth grade, except for one B in Algebra that she really doesn’t like to talk about.
She goes each Monday to St. Jude’s for treatment and is in school most of the rest of the time unless she has extra heath tests scheduled.
The Catch-A-Dream program gives children with life-threatening illnesses the chance of a lifetime to experience outdoor adventure.
It was created in memory of Bruce Brady who lived in Brookhaven and loved the outdoors. He died in 2000.
Brady’s widow, Peggy was on hand for the hunt and offered encouragement to Ashley.
This hunt was the first Catch-A-Dream event in Mississippi. The organization has sponsored several hunts outside the state.
