Disease has the ability to forever alter one’s life. It can separate us from loved ones. Disease can also cut one’s life short without ever taking a life. This happened to Chris Gaines, 34, of Jemison, who suffers from Batten Disease, a rare disorder of the nervous system.

Chris has suffered from worsening symptoms since age 3. The symptoms are mental impairment, worsening seizures, and progressive loss of motor skills.

“I think the most awful hurt a parent will ever go through is watching your child, so precious and innocent, have to decline at a steady pace every day of their life,” Lucas said.

Batten Disease is not as well known as other life-threatening diseases such as cancer, mostly because it is so rare. But there is no known cure, which has prompted Gaines’ mother, Becky Lucas, to hold an annual fundraiser to raise money toward research and awareness.

Lucas helps organize an annual golf tournament to help raise money for medical research and awareness of Batten Disease.

The eighth annual tournament is Saturday, Sept. 19 at Lakeview Retreat in Bibb County. The format is two-man scramble, and tee time begins promptly at 8 a.m.

If you are looking for a cause to support, we believe this is a worthy cause. Unfortunately, one reason fundraisers have such a hard time is because there are so many fundraisers out there. But if we would split up our contributions each year, and make a few sacrifices, we could help make a bigger difference.

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