A Portarlington artist is teeing off for a cancer-free future with Cancer Council’s The Longest Day

Cancer Council’s The Longest Day is the ultimate golf challenge that raises vital funds for people impacted by cancer.

Vietnam-born Bellarine-based business owner Trung Truong is putting his golfing skills, strength and stamina to the ultimate test for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services.

The 72-hole challenge, The Longest Day, is akin to a half marathon that begins at the crack of dawn and ends at dusk. However, golfers also have the option to take on either The Long Day (36 holes) or The Longer Day (54 holes).

Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.

The Longest Day raises money for cancer research and has been running since 2013, it sees teams of avid golfers playing from dawn to dusk in order to complete several golfing rounds.

This year the event takes place on December 12 2022, however, participants can choose to participate on any date they like. The Cancer Council says the challenge has raised over $5,435,358 since its beginnings to help cancer patients across the country.

Truong, a local artist based out of Portarlington and owner of the Fat Fox Art Gallery, will be taking on the full challenge, playing four rounds of golf (seventy-two holes) at Portarlington Golf Club on Monday, December 12 2022.

“On the Monday 12th December 2022, as part of the National Longest Day Golfing against cancer event, I will play four rounds of golf (seventy-two holes) at Portarlington Golf Club in a single day to raise money for Cancer Council,” he announced.

“We will start at 6am and hopefully finish at 6pm, I will walk all the way, but you can join me and team to play for 1 or 2 rounds, become my sponsor, or simply walk along a few holes, we need all the support from you, every bit helps.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bellarine Photography Studio (@bellarine_photographer)

The upcoming challenge will mark the third consecutive year Truong has taken on The Longest Day, combining his passion for golf with a cause close to his heart.

“Personally, cancer has taken my father, one of my brothers when they were quite young, but in the broad term, the COVID crisis has begun overshadowing all other health concerns: we skip doctors’ appointments, neglect our general health, and seem to have forgotten how devastating the results of this can be,” he told us ahead of his first challenge in 2020.

Truong moved to Australia from his native Vietnam around 17 years ago, before moving to Switzerland where he ran an art gallery in St. Moritz for about six years. Truong decided to make the move back to Australia eight years ago and has since cemented himself in the ever-growing art scene we have in Geelong and the Surf Coast with the opening on his own art space – the Fat Fox Art Gallery. It has been a key part of the Bellarine Peninsula tourism area, having been featured on the 2019 Northern Bellarine Peninsula Arts Trail.

Truong wants to use his platform in the community to raise awareness on the issue, “This global pandemic has been hard for all of us, including cancer patients. Some may be at increased risk of serious illness, while others may not have the funds or opportunities to receive regular treatment during this time. So, I decided to do something meaningful for others.

“By running a golf marathon in Portarlington, I am hoping to make a difference to the lives of cancer patients and contribute my part to the scientific research need to cure this terrible disease.”

If you’re keen to show your support and get behind this passionate artist, head here. 

Find out more about The Longest Day here.