MEYERS — At the 11th annual Longest Day of Golf, nine golfers completed a marathon on the links at Tahoe Paradise Golf Course. The summertime tradition run by South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge No. 1632 and sponsored by Harrah’s and Harveys casinos teed off June 23 at the South Shore course.

“It was wonderful,” event coordinator Mary Luckel said.

Luckel, Rus Wilson, John Rice, Kevin Sommerfeld, Bailey Sommerfeld, Joe Gonzalez, Cathy Volgelsang, Tom Borek and Tony Cupaiuolo teed off at 6:30 a.m. and golfed until 8 p.m. during the event. The nine participants played between 100-130 holes on the par-66 course, after taking pledges on a per-hole basis or flat dollar amount.

Longest Day of Golf doubles as a fundraiser for South Lake Tahoe Cancer League, the organization that offers financial aid and transportation to local cancer patients in active treatment. Last year’s event raised $11,040 for the league, and Luckel said donations were still coming in for this year — the pre-event goal was set at $15,000 and a check will be presented with the final amount in August.

“The money goes strictly to the Cancer League,” Luckel said. “The money stays to support our community — it stays right in our town.”

Wilson and Curt Emery started Longest Day of Golf in 2005, and Luckel has continued the event in recent years. Luckel has been affected by cancer personally — her mother, sister and sister-in-law have each died from the illness, which is one of the reasons she continues to coordinate the event.

“I firsthand know what it takes to make sure they have everything they need, so they don’t have to worry about how they are going to get to their appointments and make ends meet,” Luckel said.

Those interested in playing in next year’s event can contact Luckel at 530-416-4166 for more information. She encourages each player to raise as close to $1,000 as they can through donations.