The Timaru Golf Gods played 24 hours of non-stop golf last weekend to raise vital funds for the Cancer Society.

The event kicked off at Gleniti Golf Club at 4pm on Friday and finished at 4pm on Saturday.

The team aimed to raise $20,000.

Team member Jodi Welsh said most of them were tired before they even teed off, as they had gone to work on Friday morning.

‘‘Last year we participated in the longest day challenge, which is 72 holes of golf.

‘‘But this year we wanted to challenge ourselves so instead we decided to play through the night as well.’’

During the night they used glow-in-the-dark golf balls and head lamps to be able to continue playing. She had been playing golf for about 20 years, starting when she was at school.

‘‘To have completed this challenge feels amazing, epic and tiring. ‘‘We had lots of support and we are grateful to everyone and to Gleniti Golf Course for having us.’’

She said it was ‘‘cool’’ that they reached their target and thought they might be able to raise even more.

‘‘We are keeping the donation page open until January 31. It is still amazing that we were able to do this. It was the most I have laughed in 24 hours.’’

Team member and main instigator of the event Doug Bennett said they wanted to challenge themselves.

‘‘The idea has been around since early last year, but nothing was confirmed until about November.’’

He had not played any golf during the Christmas break, so was looking forward to getting six to seven rounds in.

‘‘It was fun, we had a good support team and good sponsors.

‘‘Luckily we were not coming off the green crawling on our hands and knees.’’

Team member Andy Watton-Woodings said they wanted to be able to step it up this year.

‘‘24 hours is nothing compared to the months and years people go through chemotherapy.’’

Team member Paul Hay said he was new to the challenge and was roped into it by his friends who had previously done it.

‘‘I work at Fonterra in the transport department and over the years I have seen a lot of our staff be diagnosed with cancer, and the support they and their families have been given from the Cancer Society has been phenomenal.’’

He wanted to give it a go as it was raising money for a good cause.

‘‘I had no preparation at all, I just turned up and waited to see what happened.

‘‘The staff at Fonterra have supported me very well with this challenge, and it has been greatly appreciated.’’

Cancer Society South Canterbury centre manager Leola Wilson said it was amazing what the team had done.

‘‘I couldn’t believe these guys were doing this. I watched them last year when they participated in the longest day and this year they have raised nearly double what they raised last year.

‘‘They are legends for doing it for 24 hours.’’

All of the funds raised would go to local people with cancer.

‘‘A lot of people on the team have used our services themselves or have had loved ones use our services, so they understand what it is like.’’

Donations can be made at longestday.org.nz/t/golfgods.