With a record hit-off of more than 240 players, the golf day, which aims to raise money for children’s cancer research, is still going strong in its 19th year.

Ray Stig, Elly Stig’s grandfather and organiser of the golf day, said the fund-raising total for the day was around $16,000, with donations and sponsorships still rolling in.

“All-in-all it was a great day, and that was about the figure I had in my head,” he said.

Mr Stig said everyone had their eye on the $300,000 mark this year.

“Last year we missed it by $2000, and I’ve been thinking in the back of my head we’re going to get it, we’re going to get it. I was never in doubt, it was just how much we passed it (the $300,000 mark) by.

“When we first kicked off 19-years ago, we raised $3000 and we thought that was great. Never in your wildest dreams did we think we would get to the figure that we did.”

Mr Stig said that, although children’s cancer research had come a long way, there was still more to be discovered.

With 80 per cent of child cancer sufferers surviving, there was still a margin for improvement.

“That is a big concern for me, that 20 per cent. That’s something that does stick in me, we’ve got to get that down. We’re not going to save every kid, but that 20 per cent has to come down, and the only way we’re going to do it is through research. They’re discovering new things all the time.”

Stephen Gallagher from the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) attended the Elly Stig Memorial Golf Day, and said that community fund-raising events were crucial to keeping children’s cancer research going.

“It’s great that communities get behind these events, because without that support, research can’t be done,” Mr Gallagher said.

“Twenty-five years ago, a child diagnosed with with cancer was receiving a death sentence. Now the survival is up around 80 per cent, so all that research is really tangible stuff.”

Mr Stig gave a special thanks to Merle and Terry Tuckey, who helped organise the event.

Mr Stig said sponsors were already coming forward for next year’s event, when the Stig family and the wider community would do it all again.