Tyler Trent’s legacy, strong as ever

Annual golf outing raises more than $150,000 for cancer research

The REPORTER

The legacy of Tyler Trent continued on Monday, as the fourth annual “Tee off for Tyler” charity golf outing took place Monday at the Sagamore Club in Noblesville.

This year’s outing raised more than $150,000 for the Tyler Trent Foundation, which supports cancer research. Trent was a Purdue University student and passionate Boilermakers fan whose fight with the rare bone cancer osteosarcoma produced an outpouring of inspiration and support from across the country. Tyler passed away on Jan. 1, 2019, and his foundation honors his memory by improving the lives of others who are challenged by the disease.

Elevance Health was the title sponsor of this year’s event, while other sponsors include Lucas Oil, Republic Airways, Wood Mizer, Trueblood Real Estate, Ryan Fire Protection, and the Purdue Institute for Cancer.

A total of 144 golfers participated in the sold-out “Tee Off for Tyler” golf outing. Pictured from left: Ben Dennett, Carmel; Curtis Rector, Indianapolis; Dylan Lee, Carmel and Steve Hatchel, Fishers. (Richie Hall)

Tony Trent, Tyler’s father, said it’s “humbling to see some of the same sponsors” that have been involved with the tournament from day one, and come back every year to “help Tyler’s dream come true of trying to eradicate pediatric cancer.”

“Most people don’t know this, but childhood cancer is just as prevalent as adult cancer,” said Tony Trent. But he pointed out that there are less drugs for childhood cancer, saying that there’s a lack of childhood cancer research because it’s considered rarer and there’s a smaller population.

“This tournament helps with awareness, helps people know who Tyler was, continues to bring awareness to the need to fund this,” said Tony Trent. “Only five cents of every dollar from the National Institute of Cancer goes to research for kids, and the rest goes for adult cancer. We’re just trying to do what we can do to help.”

This year’s event featured a helicopter ball drop, as well as opening remarks from Tony Trent and Kelly Trent, Tyler’s mother. Former Vice President Mike Pence also was in attendance, sharing some thoughts about Tyler and offering the opening prayer. Tyler’s younger brother Ethan Trent was there, he is a wide receiver on the Purdue football team.
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard attended the outing. Among the golfers participating were Colts wide receiver Ethan Fernea, Purdue head football coach Ryan Walters, along with Boilers quarterback Hudson Card and offensive lineman Gus Hartwig. Trey Kaufman-Renn, a forward on Purdue’s national runner-up men’s basketball team, was also there.

Participants in the golf outing came from across the country. Pictured are Rob Underhill from Appleton, Wis. and Keith Woodhouse from Bentonville, Ark. (Richie Hall)

“A lot of people remember Tyler as a football fan, but what they may not know is that his first love was basketball,” said Kelly Trent. “Tyler’s passion for Purdue sports really started when he wrote articles about the basketball team for the Purdue Exponent, so he would be delighted to know how well they did in this year’s tournament.”

The outing also featured a silent auction, with VIP sports experiences, autographed sports gear and more up. Some of those items include memorabilia connected with the Boilers’ men’s basketball team; a Final Four basketball autographed by the players sold for $1,500. Purdue coach Matt Painter also offered a signed basketball, and a Drew Brees autographed helmet was among the items. Brees played football for Purdue before winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.
“It’s just been super encouraging to build relationships with people and they come back year after year, which is special, and to know that Tyler’s remembered, and that people are thinking about it and wanting to come out to support his passion to raise money for pediatric cancer,” said Kelly Trent.
During his life, Tyler donated several of his tumors for cancer research. Those donations – as well as the monetary donations provided by the Tyler Trent Foundation – have led to even more opportunities for researchers in the field.
“We recently received two new awards through the rare cancers program at the Department of Defense, which were based in part on screening data conducted with Tyler’s tumor cells,” said Karen Pollok, PhD, IU School of Medicine researcher and one of Tyler’s doctors. “We are humbled to be able to conduct this work and appreciate the Trent family’s continued support. It is making a difference.”