The 35th annual Brian Parker Memorial Golf Tournament will be Aug. 6 at Indian Lake Hills Golf Course in Eau Claire.

More than 400 golfers are expected to participate in the tournament, which honors the memory of Brian Parker, who died after a 16-month battle with leukemia on July 1, 1980.

His parents, Dick and Judy Parker, formed the Brian Parker Memorial Foundation to better support the community that supported them through Brian’s battle.

The money raised from the tournament is used for cancer research, as well as aiding others who are in financial need.

“We are most proud that 100 percent of all funds raised go to support cancer research and cancer patients and their families in the Michiana community,” Barb Funk said. “We also provide funds yearly to the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame, Harper Cancer Research Institute and Indiana University.

“We’ve given money to help patients pay rent or utilities, medicine and treatments, wigs for chemo patients and gas cards to help with transportation to treatments,” she said.

The inaugural Brian Parker Memorial was hosted at Brookwood Golf Course in Buchanan with a total of 48 golfers.

From that point forward the golf outing has grown each year and has spent the past 25 years at Indian Lake Hills.

Golf will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a shot gun start for the 54 teams with food being provided afterward.

The process begins again at 1:30 p.m.

Participants are fed well as the cooks at the outing provide pulled pork, brats, grilled chicken, potato salad, baked beans and Subway cookies for each group.

“We realize there are many important charity golf events every year and we are very proud of our longevity, loyal following of golfers and the generous financial contributions we’ve received over the past three and a half decades,” Funk said.

More than 70 volunteers show up early and help make the event a success.

“Needless to say, we are very proud of our foundation and the way it has been supported by so many loyal friends, local businesses and donors throughout the year,” Funk said. “We consistently have the same golfers every year along with new ones who have heard about our tournament. Their enthusiasm is exciting to see — even at 6:30 a.m. Our volunteers have created a warm and welcoming day for our golfers and have shown us a loyalty over the years.”

Sponsorships are still available for the outing:

• Corporate Sponsor — With a corporate sponsorship, which requires a minimum donation of $1,000, donors will receive a four-person team entry into this year’s tournament, three-way recognition for the corporation through a banner at the entrance of the golf course, a logo displayed on the front of the tournament brochure and a corporate sponsor sign near a tee or green box.
• Gold Sponsor — as a gold sponsor, which requires a minimum donation of $500, donors will receive a 50 percent discount on a four-person team entry and two-way recognition for the corporation through a listing in a special section of the tournament program and a sign placed near a tee box or green.
• Hole Sponsor — as a hole sponsor, which requires a minimum donation of $100, donors will receive two-way recognition as they are listed in the tournament program and a sign placed near a tee box or green.

Golfers may register at brianparkerfoundation.com. Cost is $195 per team. Registration deadline is July 14.

Donations can also be made through the website.

For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Judy Parker at (269) 683-3713 or Barb Funk at (269) 470-4736.