BATAVIA, N.Y. — Nearly 100 golfers took part in the 14th annual Coop Cup at the Batavia Country Club to raise money for brain cancer research.

The tournament is named after Clint Cooper, also known as Coop, who grew up near Batavia and was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 100 golfers took part in the 14th annual Coop Cup at the Batavia Country Club

  • The tournament is named after Clint Cooper, also known as Coop, who grew up near Batavia and was diagnosed with a brain tumor

  • After he passed away in 2009, the cup has continued to raise money for brain cancer research for the Wilmot Cancer Institute in Batavia where he was treated

Dennis Develder was one of many golfers to tee off. Develder explained that for the first Coop Cup in 2008, the original goal was to pay for Coop's cancer treatment. But in 2009, he passed away at the age of 29.

"He was great to be around,” Develder said. “Everyone enjoyed him, hung out with him, and it was sad to him go through what he went through and to pass away at such a young age."

Wanting to honor Coop's memory, the cup has continued to raise money for brain cancer research for the Wilmot Cancer Institute in Batavia where he was treated.

Develder not only lost his friend to a brain tumor, but the disease hit even closer to home for him.

"Initially, I found out I had a seizure and they called the ambulance,” Develder said. “And I never had any issues before that. And I was rushed and they found out I had a growth and they diagnosed me with a brain tumor that day. This was 13 years ago."

With her husband's diagnosis and Coop's death, it inspired Lacey Morgan-Develder to keep the cup going.

She says the Coop Cup has already raised more than $83,000 for the Wilmot Cancer Institute and the total will increase after this year's cup is added.

"We have seen how treatment has been able to change in the last 13, 14 years,” said Morgan-Develder. “And we want to keep raising money. So that more people for people who hear those unfortunate words of 'you have brain cancer' have hope and can live a long and happy life where they can do what they want to do like golf on a day like today."

As for Dennis, his diagnosis gave him a new outlook on life.

"I try to get people to understand to enjoy what they are doing and never stress any issues that are going on,” said Develder. “Because you are only here once and some of us are here longer. Some of us are here shorter. And I'm going to enjoy every day I have here."