Rottnest Island Golf Club (RIGC) has exceeded all expectations, raising the highest amount of any entrant to date in the Cancer Council’s The Longest Day event.
Held over the weekend of 5-7 December, the Western Australian golf club raised a whopping $129,221, with donations still coming in – well exceeding its $50,000 goal.
The Longest Day is a golf challenge of either 36, 54 or 72 holes of golf played in one day, designed to test skill, strength and stamina. Sponsorship of the players helps to reduce the impact of cancer on all Australians, raising funds for research, prevention and support services.
Last year over 3,500 golfers across Australia raised more than $2.1 million, and this year the Cancer Council hopes to raise $3 million.
RIGC had three teams in the event who opted for 72 holes, or four rounds, with some players aiming for 100 holes.
‘Pauls Heart and Jake’s Strength’, led by the club’s key Longest Day organiser Mark, played alongside team ‘Wombats’ and team ‘Fore The Future’.
Each team has currently raised $114,590, $3,121, and $11,510 respectively.
Mark first entered The Longest Day in 2023 with his brother Paul, in memory of Paul’s son Jake. Together they raised $38,000, earning themselves the number one position in the Perth metropolitan area for the highest amount raised.
The following year, Mark played again, this time without his brother who had passed from gall bladder cancer. Again his team saw great success, exceeding their first year by a few thousand dollars and retaining the number one position in the Perth metropolitan area.
A spokesperson for the club relays that this year Mark said “let’s try make it the number one in the country”. And they did, earning the “ultimate record”.
Mark’s family all turned out in support, including an uncle who performed music on the last day.
“He knew he had a good support system and more people wanted to get involved. It’s really put Rottnest on the map,” the spokesperson told ClubTIC.
The club had also gained participant interest in the event following an appearance on 7 Mate show Teeing Off earlier this year.
To support the players, RIGC waived all cart and game fees, and brought in many sponsors.
“One sponsor put up $30,000 for a hole in one, but sadly nobody got that,” the spokesperson said.
RIGC said the event was a lot of fun, especially the last day where former footballer and media personality Xavier Ellis ran a charity drive auction, which added to the tally.
Cancer Council NSW Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Naomi Watson, said event participants are pushing forward world-class research that saves lives, emphasising the importance of ‘slip slop slap seek slide’.
With fundraisers like this, cancer survival rates have increased to around 70 per cent today, up from 51 per cent in the 1980s.
RIGC is now on a final push for last minute donations in the hopes they can triple their original goal.
