Jake Butler's a little brother who isn't so little anymore.
The 16-year-old Lawrence High football player is one-half of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Douglas County's longest-running big-brother, little-brother relationship. Brett Fuller, 35, is the other half.
The duo got together 10 years ago when Butler was 6 years old and in need of an adult male to help guide him through life. Since then, the two have developed a strong bond.
"He's taught me things about life, school, jobs, girls, just everything in general that I might not have learned if I didn't have a male role model," said Butler, a 16-year-old junior at Lawrence High School.
During the last 10 years, they have attended Kansas University basketball and football games, played arcade games and seen movies together.
Butler and Fuller were the first adult-youth match for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Douglas County, which opened in 1991. The pair celebrated their 10-year anniversary together last month.
When he first heard about the Big Brothers program a decade ago, Fuller said he knew he wanted to give back to the community and make a difference in a child's life. But he said he never imagined the relationship would last as long as it has.
"I never thought I would just put in my one year (commitment) and bail," he said. But "I didn't think it would last this long either."
During the last 10 years, Fuller has done some father-and-son-type activities with Butler, such as teaching him how to fish and how to drive a boat at Clinton Lake. Butler's parents are divorced.
"It was kind of funny back then because (Jake) would say he knew how to drive a boat but didn't know how to ride a bike yet," he said.
The pair has attended many games played by the Jayhawks as well as the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Fuller also has watched Butler play biddy basketball, soccer and high school football.
An avid sports fan, Butler joked he is able to sit still through an entire game now compared to when he was younger. He said Fuller even took him to Chicago for his birthday one year.
"I've gotten the opportunity to do a lot more things, like entertainment, that I wouldn't have otherwise," he said.
In addition to doing fun activities together, Butler said Fuller has given advice and been a role model to him.
"He's someone who you would like to follow in his footsteps in a way," Butler said.
Maria Butler, Jake's mother, said her family was fortunate to find someone like Fuller through Big Brothers.
"I would recommend the program wholeheartedly because it's been wonderful for us," she said.
Fuller said he has enjoyed playing the role of a brother and a father toward Butler and hopes to continue their friendship in the years to come.
"It's been very rewarding to see him grow up, make a lot of good decisions and do things right even though it may not be the most popular thing to do at the time," he said.
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