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This article was published 24/6/2021 (327 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A sore back, blisters on his feet and a body that’s worn out for days is par for the course in the annual Marathon Monday Fundraiser.
So described Patrick Law, who joins fellow golf enthusiast Dylan Thornborough at the Glenboro Golf and Country Club each year for a marathon golf session.
Marathon Monday founders Dylan Thornborough and Patrick Law are shown during a past event at the Glenboro Golf & Country Club. (Submitted)
Last year’s event found the two reach a new record, golfing 210 holes in a single day.
This year, they’re hitting the links July 5 in an attempt to beat this record.
As with every year’s event, they’ll wake up before dawn and begin golfing "as soon as we can see the balls fly," Law said, and then brace for body horrors.
Although they ride in a cart throughout the day, there’s still plenty of physical exertion throughout the various rounds of golf.
It’s all worthwhile, Law said, with the annual fundraiser raising approximately $90,000 toward the Canadian Cancer Society during its first nine years.
Marathon Monday founders Dylan Thornborough and Patrick Law are seen during a past event at the Glenboro Golf & Country Club. (Submitted)
This year, he hopes to break $100,000.
The annual event began as an idea 10 years ago — a marathon golf day to raise money for charity.
The beneficiary of the inaugural event was decided upon because Law’s mother, Ellen Law of Cypress River, had been diagnosed with cancer.
She’s "doing great" now, Law said, adding she has been cancer-free for four years and is one of the lucky ones to benefit from the medical advancements they’re seeking to help bolster with their fundraisers.
Thornborough’s grandmother died of cancer before the second event took place, which firmed up the Canadian Cancer Society as the annual event’s permanent charity of choice.
"We’re never short of motivation to do this event, and it exceeded our expectations immensely in the first year, and we kept it going," Law said, adding their first year’s goal of raising $1,000 was obliterated by the $5,800 they ended up collecting.
"There are a lot of people affected by cancer, and to see some of them out there who say they appreciate what we’re doing makes it all worth it, for sure."
This year’s effort started with a giant question mark hanging over the two, with the prospect of Thornborough, who now lives in Alberta, being unable to participate due to COVID-related travel restrictions.
But these restrictions ended up changing in time for Thornborough, now fully vaccinated, to be allowed to join his friend in Glenboro without undertaking a two-week quarantine.
Although Monday’s golf marathon remains unchanged from the event’s 2012 beginnings, they added a Sunday Funday event a few years ago for the public to more directly participate. It consisted of a tournament in Glenboro in 2019.
Last year’s event went virtual, with participants encouraged to fundraise and golf at their home course.
This broadened the event’s participation beyond Glenboro, which Law said helped them bring in a record-breaking $16,000.
The hope is this year’s event will do the same, with people encouraged to fundraise in advance of a July 4 round or two of golf, with prizes provided to top fundraisers alongside randomized prizing.
The following day, Law and Thornborough will set their sights on conquering 210 holes of golf in Glenboro.
Although the main events aren’t until July 4-5, Law said he plans on heading out to take part in mini-marathons in the lead-up alongside friend and fundraiser Bryce Watson.
On June 14, they participated in rounds of golf at six golf courses in Westman.
For more information on the Marathon Monday Fundraiser and how to support it, visit marathonmonday.ca.
» tclarke@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB