Nick Parata and Bob Martin, who play cricket, hockey and rugby to premier club level, left Dunedin just before 4am yesterday to hit the Roxburgh Golf Course at 6am.
In the following 12 hours they played 72 holes of golf, the last few in bare feet.
Parata said the fundraiser had been on his mind for sometime as almost everyone was affected one way or another by cancer.
A boys’ weekend away late last year, which included a round at Roxburgh, inspired this week’s effort, he said.
"It was really sunny and we all played really good golf so decided to come back for the Longest Day."
However, yesterday was drizzly, their golf was not stellar and they had lost 14 balls by lunchtime but the pair remained in good spirits.
"It’s so easy for everything to go [wrong]," he said.
However, the support from the Central Otago community had impressed them.
"We’re being treated like superstars.
"It’s turned into a bit more than we thought. It’s quite humbling.
"Our phones have blown up [with messages of support] and we’ve had shout-outs on the radio station."
Helping them commit to the day was Martin’s upcoming move to Brisbane, after teaching at Taieri College.
"It was now or never," Parata said.
The Cancer Society’s Longest Day is a fundraiser where participants sign up to complete 72 holes on any course on any day in December or January, with December 21 being the year’s longest day.
Yesterday afternoon their fundraising total was nearly $2500.
Donations can still be made on their fundraising page at longestday.org.nz/t/nick-and-bob-tackle-cancer
