Dry July is more than just giving up alcohol – it’s all about improving the comfort, care and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.
Each year, the Dry July Foundation helps local and national cancer support organisations across Australia – just like Cancer Wellness Support.
Last year, Cancer Wellness Support and Women With Altitude worked together to raise an impressive $31,135!
This remarkable achievement truly embodies the spirit of community, and it would not have been possible without the valuable contributions from each and every individual involved.
And in 2024? Yep, we’re going to do it all again – this time with a goal of $42,500.
So Why Go Dry in July?
Living with cancer poses significant challenges for people in rural and regional Australia, with limited access to healthcare and transportation often resulting in poorer health and wellness outcomes. For those caring for loved ones, it can feel even lonelier and tougher without the support available in big cities (Cancer Council).
Taking all of this into consideration, Robyn Yates OAM introduced the visionary concept of Cancer Wellness Support in 2005. Powered by collective compassion and the extraordinary spirit of giving, Cancer Wellness Support has thrived for nearly two decades, supporting local people living with cancer and their families across the Blue Mountains, Penrith and Hawkesbury region.
This unique model has allowed Lee Pittman (client) and Rob Pittman (carer) to remain in the Blue Mountains instead of relocating to Sydney.
Despite extensive searches for comparable support services in Sydney, Rob found nothing that rivalled Cancer Wellness Support. He questioned, “Why would I separate Lee from this invaluable support, when everything we need is right here in the Blue Mountains? We’d prefer to travel an hour for our oncology appointment once a month than lose the weekly support available just ten minutes down the road.”
Our person-centred approach ensures programs are tailored to individual circumstances, and services can be accessed for as long as our clients and carers remain as members.
Why We’re Pouring our Support into Dry July
Dry July stands out among charities by providing impactful cancer services over purely focusing on research, making it a natural fit for alignment with Cancer Wellness Support.
As a beneficiary of Dry July, Cancer Wellness Support will receive 100% of the funds raised in 2024 to allow us to continue providing personalised care and support to people living with cancer and their families.
For the $42,500 that we intend to fundraise during Dry July, this will provide:
- 1,100 therapies ($38,500) to support both individuals and their families living with cancer.
- 10 x comfortable chairs ($2,000) to be used in group work, meditation and chair yoga
- Additional bandaging and gel ($2,000) for our lymphoedema management program.
Ready to Raise Spirits and Funds?
This Dry July, we have three simple ways for you to get involved:
- Join our Dry July team and/or donate directly
- Come and support our Dry July fundraising events (watch this space)
- If you are a local business, group or association who would like to contribute a prize or help us with fundraising, please reach out to mary.donnelly@cancersupport.org.au
Who’s ready to make a difference with us?!
