Curt Groebner is as passionate about golf as he is about fighting cancer. So passionate that for the last 12 years he has held a 24-hour golf marathon that has raised $88,982 for GO2.

How a personal connection turned into an ongoing commitment

“In our fourth year [of the golf marathon], my uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer,” explained Groebner. “In light of that and the fact that I had lost two grandparents to lung cancer, it made me realize that this cause was something I wanted to fight for.” Groebner added that as he did more research, the disproportionate lack of attention to lung cancer made him even more committed.

“There’s a huge opportunity to save lives and there’s a glaring need to invest more in research and health—and help people more,” he said.

Going the extra mile

Over the years, Groebner has combined his passions in more ways than his 24-hour golf marathon. In 2020, during our first annual “Summer Jam Virtual 5k Your Way,” Groebner made his 5k a speed golfing event. “My thought was to sprint the golf course and play as fast as I could on foot. I ran a little over 5K while playing a round of golf.” He completed his challenge in 43 minutes and raised $3,650 for GO2.

In August 2021, during GO2’s Virtual Golf Marathon, Curt, of course, went the extra mile. Or miles. Groebner played 108 holes of golf in six states in just three days raising $11,100!

This past June, Curt once again showed up for the lung cancer community for this year’s Summer Jam. He held another golf marathon where a multitude of family and friends joined him on the course throughout the 24 hours. It was a record-breaking year for Curt who raised over $13,000. He was our top individual fundraiser for Summer Jam 2022!

Proof that fundraising can be fun

”The ‘5K Your Way’ offered the chance for people to choose their own activity which attracts even more people to fundraise for GO2,” he said. “Hopefully, this attracts more people to want to set one up—and also have more fun with it.”

As Curt has shown, fundraising can be fun. Turn your passions into a way to help the lung cancer community by starting your own individual fundraiser!