2024 was another successful Dry July Campaign for BRICC and the Wellness Centre. We raised over $48,000 for our centre, far exceeding our target of $40,000. We would like to thank our incredible fundraisers, particularly Kelli Aggett and her Wellness Warriors who host the now much anticipated Wellness Ball in June each year.
Of the $48,873 raised, this amount was equally split between the Wellness Centre and BRICC.
The funds raised by Dry July for the Wellness Centre are integral to continuing our services. In the past year, 327 new patients registered at the Wellness Centre, with 52% choosing more than one supportive care program. An average of 280-300 people use the Centre every month. Dry July funds are integral to keeping all of our programs free of charge.
In the last year Dry July has helped fund:
• Over 3000 appointments at our Wellness Centre, across 21 programs
• Support groups provide essential peer and facilitator support for several specific cancers and demographic groups including Bowel Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Young people’s support and carer support.
• Our walking group, smoking cessation, yoga, Fatigue relief and Wellness education all encourage our patients to be empowered in their cancer care
• Our Wig Library, Bra and Breast form fittings and the Look Good Feel Better program have all proven to be exceptionally beneficial for our female patients.
The funds raised by Dry July that were used by BRICC went to a long-awaited upgrade of our treatment chairs in the Chemotherapy Day Unit (CDU). This project to replace the chairs started in 2023, and 2024 funds will allow us to purchase an additional 4 chairs. We hope to raise enough money in 2025 to finalise this project, and purchase 5 more chairs. Without Dry July’s support, we do not have the budget to replace these chairs, which are in constant use in the CDU. The Centre currently treats approximately 300 public patients over ~3800 episodes of treatment. (in addition to 400 private patients across Grampians Health, over ~5000 episodes of treatment).
