By SCOTT MIMS / For the Reporter

MONTEVALLO – The sixth annual Batten Disease Golf Tournament will be Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Montevallo Golf Course.

All proceeds from the tournament go to the research of Batten Disease, an inherited brain deteriorating disease for which there is no cure.

Chris Gaines, 32, of Jemison was first diagnosed with Batten as a child in 1988 and has beaten the odds by living much longer than doctors predicted.

Called an “early death sentence” by many doctors, Batten Disease usually claims the lives of its victims within one to two years of diagnosis.

“Every time we go to the national conference, Chris is the oldest one who can still walk and see,” said his mother, Becky Lucas.

“There were nine new families this past year that had been diagnosed.”

To benefit ongoing research, last year’s tournament raised nearly $3,000 and past tournaments have raised even more.

More sponsors are needed this year to cover the use of the golf course and the cost of tournament T-shirts.

The format will be two-man scramble, and as many as 36 teams can play.

“I’ve still got some openings if someone wants to play,” Lucas said.

“This tournament is open to anyone who would like to play golf for a good cause.”

The cost is $100 per team ($50 to play, $50 to sponsor a hole), which includes two mulligans per player and lunch.

There will be a longest drive contest and a closest to the pin contest.

Three flights will be awarded each with first, second and third place trophies, as well as door prizes.

Tee time is promptly at 8 a.m.

Players are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to tee time for signup.

For more information, please contact Lucas at (205) 668-0812/296-6625 or Tony Cochran at (334) 366-4018.

The Montevallo Golf Course may be reached at (205) 665-8057