Wangaratta golfers tee off to make a difference

EVERYONE enjoys a lovely day of golf, but how far would you be willing to go to test your endurance and raise money for cancer research and treatment? Wangaratta Golf Club secretary Tracey McKinnon is one of many around the club and state who, over the next two months, will take part in Cancer Council’s The Longest Day. The Longest Day is the ultimate test of golf skills and stamina, challenging golfers to take on 72, 54 or 36 holes of golf in one day while raising money to help reduce the impact of cancer for all Australians. This year, The Longest Day will officially take place on Monday, December 9, but participants can take on the challenge at their local golf club anytime during December and January. McKinnon said the loss of her brother to cancer was what drew her to participate. “I did 36 holes last year just on my own - I didn’t have any affiliation with the club, I just registered on my own – purely because I lost my brother to cancer,” she said. “I’m only new to golf, so I thought 36 holes would probably be my starting point “From there, other members have said to me ‘why has the club not registered’ and I said I didn’t know but I’ll do it next year. “I registered the club, we’ve got about four teams underneath our club that are doing it on different days in December and I think there might be a group that are playing in January.” The club has set a $4000 fundraising goal, with McKinnon’s group set to tee off next week, and will complete their 54 holes no matter what it takes. “I’m coming back from having carpel tunnel surgery – I thought I should just do 54 and see how we go, but if I feel OK I’m going to continue and do the 72,” she said. “My husband said to me I’m going to put a fair bit of pressure on because I haven’t played in 12 weeks because of the wrist. “People with cancer don’t go ‘I don’t think I’ll have cancer today’ - whether it’s rain, hail or shine, they’re fighting, so if I can fight through a little bit of soreness, if I’ve got to crawl over the line, then I’ll crawl over the line. “It’s the least I could do anyway, that’s my theory - it’s been 23 years without my big brother, it’s (cancer) a terrible thing, so if we can raise any money, then it’s good.” With golfers almost 2.5 times more likely to develop skin cancer in their lifetime, Cancer Council Victoria is encouraging all golfers to keep sun safe and slip on sun protective clothing, slop on SPF50 or higher sunscreen, slap on a broad-brim hat, not just on The Longest Day, but every day. Cancer Council Victoria’s head of fundraising and communications Lyrian Fleming-Parsley said all Victorians will be affected by cancer at some point in their lives. “By working together, we can all play a part in reducing the impact for cancer for all Victorians,” Fleming-Parsley said. “Participants in The Longest Day will be making a difference as all funds raised will go towards funding Cancer Council Victoria’s world-class cancer research, helping save lives and bringing us closer to a cancer-free future. “Thanks to investment in research to date, amazing advancements have been made in cancer prevention, screening and treatment – helping increase survival rates from 51 per cent in the late 1980s to around 70 per cent today.” To donate, visit www.longestday.org.au/fundraisers/WangarattaGolfClub.

Wangaratta golfers tee off to make a difference

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