What started as a small, heartfelt fundraiser 14 years ago has grown into a tradition spanning two provinces and a test of endurance unlike any other.
Marathon Monday began in 2012, shortly after Minnedosa Golf and Country Club’s general manager and head pro, Patrick Law’s mother, was diagnosed with cancer. Wanting to do something positive, he, along with longtime friend Dylan Thornborough, decided to golf “as much as humanly possible” in one day, collecting pledges to support cancer research along the way.
“I wanted to do this type of fundraiser in our hometown, and Dylan said, ‘Why not do it for cancer research?’” Law recalls. “He knew what my mom was going through, and then, unfortunately, his grandmother was also diagnosed with cancer and passed away the following year, so that solidified our motivation."
Since then, Marathon Monday has grown beyond Minnedosa. This year, 10 marathon events were held across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, including in Glenboro, Russell, Hartney, and Estevan.
Last year, Law and Thornborough unofficially shattered a world record by playing 333 holes in 12 hours, surpassing both the Guinness mark and a previously unofficial record set in Cape Breton.
“For the marathons, we’ve always played more than anybody. I don’t know if we’re just crazier or what,” he jokes. “We saw some guys in Cape Breton did 307 holes, so we decided to top that, and we did. Unofficially, we hold the world record.”
For their 14th annual marathon, this year, they added another new twist to their tradition: instead of counting holes, they played for time. On Monday, July 28, the pair teed off at 5 a.m. for eighteen full hours on the course.
“The eighteen hours were long, to put it lightly,” he says with a laugh. "It started a little overcast, and we thought it would be a good day, but then the Manitoba heat rolled in. By the end of the day, we were ready to be done with it, but you always remember why you're doing it. It's for a good cause, and that kept us motivated to power through."
The duo wrapped up close to midnight, raising over $23,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. With pledges still coming in, that number is expected to top $25,000.
For these men, the motivation remains deeply personal. Law's mother is now a cancer survivor, which he says is directly linked to the research they raise funds for.
“She’s doing great," he says. "She’s one of the fortunate ones. When she was diagnosed, there was research and technology available to help her, so she was able to beat it. If she had gotten that diagnosis five or 10 years earlier, her story might’ve ended differently.”
Beyond the challenge itself, Marathon Monday is about community, family, and connection.
“It’s always special to do this. Dylan lives in Alberta now, so it’s great to spend time together on the golf course like we used to growing up,” he continues. “Even though neither of us lives in Glenboro anymore, we always hold our marathons there. The local community is incredibly supportive of us, and seeing that is the most humbling part."
Plans are already in the works for next year’s event, with ideas ranging from adding golf simulators for a winter fundraiser to expanding participation in even more communities.
“We’ve got a few ideas to keep it fresh,” he adds. “But we’re always looking for new people to join us, wherever they’re from.”
In the meantime, donations can still be made at marathonmonday.ca, and updates are posted regularly on the event’s Instagram page.
“It’s crazy to think how far it’s come. We started hoping to play 100 holes and raise $1,000. Now we’ve got a world record, we’re playing over 200 holes every year, and we’ve raised more than $200,000 for cancer research. It’s pretty incredible.”
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