For most golfers, a round of 18 holes is a solid day on the links. But for Brett Janz and his friend Nathan Zadorozny, 117 holes in a single day was just the start of something bigger.
The pair joined this year’s Marathon Monday, a golf fundraiser that has raised nearly $200,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society over the past 13 years. On July 14th, they played their marathon round at MacGregor Golf Club, teeing off around 6 a.m.
“It was an awesome day,” says Janz, who took part for the second year in a row alongside Zadorozny, a university friend from Gilbert Plains. “We set our goal for $2,500, and we passed it before we even teed off. I'm glad we raised as much as we did.”
Marathon Monday began back in 2012, when Minnedosa Golf & Country Club’s head pro, Patrick Law, and his friend Dylan Thornborough decided to honour Law’s mother, who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. That first year, they played 128 holes and raised $5,800 in support of her fight, which she would later win.
Since then, the event has grown across Manitoba. In 2024 alone, it raised $41,418, making it the third-largest golf fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society in the country. That same year, Law and Thornborough set an unofficial world record by completing 333 holes in 12 hours at Glenboro Golf & Country Club, while 10 other marathon rounds unfolded at courses across the province.
The beauty of Marathon Monday is its flexibility. Golfers choose a day that works for them, then post updates and donation links on social media to raise funds. It’s a simple, yet meaningful way to blend passion for the game with community spirit.
“We woke up around 6 a.m. and did 13 nines, which took about 13 hours,” he explains. “Golfing all day isn’t the worst thing in the world," he jokes. "Plus, it was just a great excuse to spend time with a buddy and support a good cause.”
Though the day was long, the cooler, overcast weather worked in their favour.
“Last year was very hot, and the 100 holes seemed to take forever. This time it was cool, a little overcast, and it even rained on us a little, which was nice for a long day," he adds.
The pair raised $3,400 this year, up from $3,000 the previous year, and they don’t plan to stop anytime soon.
“We’ll do it every year,” he continues. “MacGregor’s a nice course to play it on, especially early on a Monday when it’s not too busy. We could get around pretty quickly.”
Marathon Monday is always looking for new golfers and courses to join the cause, and there’s still time to be part of this year’s efforts.
On July 28th, founders Law and Thornborough will push the boundaries once again, this time aiming for 18 hours of non-stop golf at Glenboro Golf & Country Club, replacing the usual 18-hole round with an endurance test designed to inspire.
To host your own Marathon Monday event or to donate, contact Patrick Law at 204-720-9623 or visit marathonmonday.ca.
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