With just under two weeks until the official day for The Longest Day, Canberra team Greenskeepers Anonymous from Royal Military College Golf Club (RMCGC) is preparing to play golf continuously for 24 hours, pushing themselves through an extraordinary challenge to raise funds for people in the ACT affected by cancer.
The challenge forms part of Cancer Council ACT’s annual golf fundraising campaign, which sees local golfers play as many holes as they can to support cancer research, prevention and support services.
Last year, Greenskeepers Anonymous team smashed out more than 115 holes in daylight hours. This year they’re going again, and they are testing their limits to see if they can play for a full 24 hours using glow-in-the-dark balls.
"It’s a rare chance to channel our local club spirit at RMCGC into something bigger than golf. Cancer Council ACT relies heavily on local fundraising to support patients and research right here in the ACT, so being able to give back to our community means everything." said Aaron Jago, team caption of Greenkeepers Anonymous.
Cancer Council ACT CEO Verity Hawkins says the dedication shown by The Longest Day participants across the ACT is inspiring.
“It takes many hands to take on cancer, and every person taking part in The Longest Day is making a difference for people affected by cancer in the ACT. Teams like Greenskeepers Anonymous are giving their time, energy and determination to support a cause that touches so many lives in our community.
Now we're asking Canberrans to get behind them. Every donation, no matter the size, helps fund support services, trusted information and cancer research that improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.”
Almost 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. Funds raised through The Longest Day help Cancer Council ACT continue providing practical and emotional support for people affected by cancer, deliver cancer prevention programs and invest in life-saving research.
For the Greenskeepers Anonymous team, the challenge will test their endurance, concentration and resilience. As daylight fades and fatigue begins to set in, they will rely on teamwork and determination to keep moving around the course. Their 24-hour effort serves as a reminder that cancer doesn't stop when the sun goes down, and neither does Cancer Council ACT’s work towards its vision of a cancer free future.
Aaron shared, "There’s an incredible bond that forms around hole 50, when everyone’s feet are aching and the swings are getting sloppy, but everyone is still laughing and pushing each other to the finish line.”
With under two weeks remaining until The Longest Day, Cancer Council ACT is encouraging the community to support local participants by donating and helping them reach their goal of raising $50,000 for people in the ACT affected by cancer.
To support local fundraising teams taking part in The Longest Day, visit longestday.org.au and make a donation.
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Notes for editors:
Read more about Greenskeepers Anonymous
Canberra team Greenskeepers Anonymous is taking Cancer Council’s The Longest Day challenge one step further, attempting to play continuously for 24 hours. Interviews and photo opportunities with the team are available on request.
Read more about their story on our website.
Registered clubs
Five clubs across Canberra have registered to host players across November and December:
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Murrumbidgee Country Club
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Royal Military College Golf Club
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Fairbairn Golf Club
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Canberra Public Golf Course
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Queanbeyan Golf Club
Cancer statistics
Across Australia, it was estimated that in 2025,169,759 cases of cancer will be diagnosed, with an estimated 53,545 cancer deaths in 20252 shows that cancer will continue to be the leading cause of all deaths and premature deaths in Australia up to 2044.
Other stats:
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Cancer accounts for around 3 of every 10 deaths in Australia
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Every day, about 466 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer
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Every day, about 147 Australians will die from cancer
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Since late 2000s, both cancer incidence and mortality rates have generally decreased, and 5-year relative survival estimates have improved from 50% in 1987-1991 to 72% in 2017-2021.
Impact of donations
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$10 – Helps someone newly diagnosed access important information and support resources
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$25 – Equips cancer researchers with essential chemicals and lab equipment
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$50 – Helps pay for collection and processing of a blood sample for cancer research
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$150 – Provides an ENHANCE Wellbeing session to support individuals affected by cancer before, during and after treatment
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$1,000 – Enables our 13 11 20 health professionals to help 15 people affected by cancer who need information or emotional and practical support
About us:
About Cancer Council ACT:
Cancer Council ACT has been advocating for Canberrans living with cancer for 50 years across every aspect of cancer prevention, support and research to alleviate the impact of cancer in the community. Learn more about what we do here.
Contact details:
For media enquiries, please contact:
Cancer Council ACT
