Cancer Survivor's Golf Event Raises $100K in Four Years

Five months after doctors declared him cancer-free, Kevin Sullivan did something remarkable: he created a golf tournament that would go on to raise over $100,000 for kids fighting the disease he'd just beaten.

The Hampton businessman and father was diagnosed with paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer in fall 2021. After treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, he was declared cancer-free in April 2022. By September, the first Luck O' The Irish Jimmy Fund Classic teed off at Pease Golf Course in Portsmouth.

"I saw a lot of children at Dana-Farber every day for the seven or eight weeks I was there," Sullivan said. "You see people who really need help."

That first year, Sullivan raised nearly $17,000. Over four years, the tournament has crossed the $100,000 mark, with all proceeds supporting childhood cancer research through the Jimmy Fund.

The fifth annual event happens July 20, and Sullivan has set an ambitious goal of $40,000. Last year he aimed for $30,000 and exceeded it, so he's confident the Seacoast community will show up again.

The tournament's maximum field of 124 golfers filled up in January, with most teams from last year returning. Sullivan still needs hole sponsors and donations for the silent auction and raffle.

Scott Cogger, a retired York Police officer and fellow cancer survivor, helps organize the event. He was diagnosed with thymic carcinoma in early 2022 and declared cancer-free that July.

"Kevin and I are just trying to pay it back to Dana-Farber," Cogger said. "They saved us, and now we can help save others."

The Ripple Effect

Sullivan's tournament has become more than a fundraiser. It's created a community of survivors, supporters, and friends who gather each summer to celebrate life and give hope to families facing cancer.

Chris Snow, president of Eastern States Packaging and longtime friend, said Sullivan's team "does everything right from start to finish." Many Seacoast businesses have donated gift cards and auction items, creating a cycle of community support.

Kerry Whitten, who officiates high school basketball with Sullivan, noted that officials across New Hampshire are "pretty tight" and many attend the tournament each year. They come to support one of their own and feel good about giving back.

Sullivan undergoes cancer scans every six months but focuses on gratitude. "I am glad to be living every day and being on this side of the grass," he said.

The tournament continues to accept hole sponsors at $250 and donations for its silent auction and raffle, turning a personal health battle into a powerful force for helping kids fight cancer.