Four Totaradale Golf Club members will tee off this Friday morning on a 24-hour mission.
Stoke-based Roger Hunapo convinced three of his clubmates, Stu Albon and Abi Mann and Craig Spargo, to join him for the Cancer Society Longest Day fundraiser – Par Fore a Purpose.
They plan to play the nine-hole Wakefield course from 9am for 24 hours non-stop until Saturday morning.
The quartet is prepared for the real challenge to arise during the hours of darkness, and it will likely be more mental than physical.
“We will have two golf carts with fairy lights so we look like a truck going down the fairways. We will be wearing glow-in-the-dark clothing, and some club members plan to come out to the course, hide in trees and throw things at us to keep us alert in the early hours,” says Roger.
“We have talked extensively about no one going quiet during the night because the minute you do, that is when you start drifting off. We have to look after each other out on the course.”
The goal is to raise $20,000 and there was immediate support from as far as Wellsford, north of Auckland where his mother is undergoing chemotherapy, to as far south as Otago.
The other three players also have personal connections to cancer. Whether it is pledging a dollar per hole completed over the 24 hours or a one-off donation, the foursome is encouraging local business to get behind them and support the Cancer Society.
“It is not just about the golf but getting through the 24 hours,” insists the four handicapper who is coming back from a shoulder injury.
Having said that, there is another incentive, trying to get into the Guinness World Records for playing the most holes in 24 hours. For more details check out longestday.org.nz/t/par-fore-a-purpose.
