Whenever Luke Muller has some down time, which isn’t all the time, he’s always up for some golf. The former Highlands High School and Northern Kentucky University standout was back on the links Wednesday. He was playing at Eagle Creek Country Club with one-time Norse teammate Mason Butler and some of Butler’s friends.
Butler, a former St. Henry golfer, is a member at Eagle Creek, and he knows Muller likes the course.
“I’ve played there quite a bit. When Mason wanted to know if I wanted to play with him and his buddies, I was in,” Muller said. “They caught me at a good time. It was a nice day for golf, sunny, a little windy, so it worked out great.”
Boy, did it ever. Muller shot 3-under-par 67 over the 6,000-yard layout in Crittenden. That was the lowest round among the group. While it didn’t amount to anything other than the day’s bragging rights, Muller was nevertheless heartened by the score.
“I’ve done well in spots this year, but I could play better,” said Muller. He recently entered the professional ranks and is in between volunteer coaching stints at NKU. “I’m not traveling with the team until next week. So I thought I’d play some golf with friends and wound up doing all right. Mason got everybody together. He’s played there a lot, so I’ll take it.”
Next week, it’ll be Muller who will be doing the hosting. Saturday, Oct. 10, features the next installment of the annual Luke Muller Golf Outing, and it’s a biggie.
“We’ve been doing it a while,” said Muller, 23. “It’s a great cause.”
The Luke Muller Golf Outing was established in 2006. Originally organized by family friends, including Tim Price, to help his parents pay medical bills, the charity event has run for two decades under the motto “No One Fights Alone.”
It’s a day-long affair centering around cancer care, the kind Muller received when he was diagnosed as a preschooler. What the family thought was maybe a chest cold or an allergic reaction was actually lymphoblastic lymphoma. It’s a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was found after a tumor was seen pressing against Muller’s trachea, which caused him to have problems inhaling and exhaling.
The diagnosis triggered emergency intervention. Muller was in the hospital for a month. He went through two years of chemotherapy followed by three years of scans and blood work, and emerged cancer-free. All the while, he was surrounded by heroes including his doctors and caregivers. His parents, former Fort Thomas councilman John Muller, and Terri, who, like her husband, works in health care, were there.
“I’m lucky to have good people around me,” Luke said.
When he spoke about his ordeal while at Highlands, the Bluebirds golfer and basketball player said it was a heavy thing for him to experience. Back then, his father knew it would be something that would stay with the family forever, no matter the outcome. “We don’t like to use the phrase ‘beat cancer.’ Every day is a blessing,” John Muller said. “As his parents, it never leaves your mind. We can’t stress enough the idea of awareness with your child and the kind of care we got from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the incredible support we’ve received from the community.”
Today, Luke is a one-of-a-kind cancer survivor, and a pretty tall one at that. Now a 6-foot-6 Minor League Tour golfer, he stayed in remission and has a clean bill of health following a spring check-up. Once a year, he returns to the Cincinnati Children’s survivor clinic for a thorough examination to make sure cancer is a thing of the past. His golf game is good enough to compete for a PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry spot two years running. He turned pro last December.
More than that, he’s the namesake of his own golf outing, a survivor who helps give back to kids. The way Luke looks at it, if he can recover from a rare form of cancer and grow up to be a 6-6 pro golfer, that bodes well for the next little one who needs a helping hand.
Rallying for Natalie and Boone
Location for the 20th Luke Muller Golf Outing is Kenton County Golf Courses at 3908 Richardson Road in Independence. Golf gets going with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. There’s lunch, games and an after-party. All proceeds benefit little Natalie Dickman and Boone Studer, so all participants will be gathering for a worthy cause.
Dickman suffers from rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that develops from immature skeletal muscle cells. The American Cancer Society says it can start almost anywhere in the body, including in the head and neck. While it can occur at any age, it’s often found in children between ages 2 and 6.
Here is her brief bio at the outing’s website at www.lmgo.store:
“Natalie Dickman is a bright, joyful little girl who loves to dance, laugh, and make friends wherever she goes. In 2023, what started as a small bump on her cheek quickly turned into something far more serious. After weeks of uncertainty, Natalie was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. Since then, she has faced more than any child ever should — with strength, courage, and a spirit that continues to shine.
“Through treatments, hospital stays, and unimaginable challenges — including a second rare diagnosis known as a Triton tumor — Natalie continues to smile and inspire everyone around her. This golf outing is more than a day on the course — it’s a chance to rally behind Natalie and her family, to lift them up, and to remind them they are not fighting alone.”
Boone Studer was born with epidermolysis bullosa, often referred to as “The Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of” or EB. It’s the result of a mutated gene. It causes Boone’s body to stop producing an important protein in his skin called collagen-7. This protein helps skin bind together. When there is not enough collagen-7, the results include skin blistering with even the slightest bit of friction.
EB affects not just the outside of the body; Boone also suffers from blisters inside his mouth, throat, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. There is currently no cure for EB. Up until 2023, there were no approved treatments. Boone wears bandages on his body as a protective barrier to healthy areas of skin. This also protects blistered areas from infection.
Here is his bio:
“Boone is a brave 5-year-old living with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic condition that makes his skin as fragile as a butterfly’s wing. Even the slightest touch can cause painful blistering, both inside and out, and he wears bandages daily to protect his skin and prevent infection.
“But Boone doesn’t let EB define him. He loves sports, being active, and just being a kid. More than anything, he simply wants to be out there playing. Despite the challenges he faces every day, Boone’s strength, joy, and determination continue to inspire everyone around him as we hold onto hope for a cure.”
The families of both these young children endure substantial medical bills even after insurance coverage, which adds stress to an already difficult situation. The Luke Muller Golf Outing, by bringing together friends, family and community for a day-long celebration of love, hope and healing, attempts to help them out.
“LMGO has dedicated two decades to uplifting families impacted by cancer,” the site says. “Our annual golf event and lively after-party raise funds that make a real difference. We also host holiday toy and clothing drives to extend care beyond the greens.”
As someone who used to be in their shoes, Muller said it’s the least he can do. “We have a lot of people organizing this. It takes a lot,” he said of the efforts on behalf of Natalie and Boone. “I’ll get to meet them on Saturday.”
Muller will see a little bit of himself in them when he does.
For more information on how you can give to the Luke Muller Golf Outing and for complete outing and after-party details, visit lmgo.store.
