Barwon Health's Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong

Jack Martin in one of the amazing Cancer Nurse Specialists you can meet at Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

He’s been a part of the incredible clinical team there for three years, after an 7 year career of caring for cancer patients.

What inspires Jack is working with the entire collaborative team at Andrew Love from nurses, doctors, admin staff and more.

Jack said, “My passion is caring for patients in their time of need. I love helping them on their survivorship journey, from treatment and beyond.”

“Cancer care is innovative and always changing, and financial support is everything in this space. This is why I’m going Dry this July.”

You can donate to support Jack and the amazing work he and his colleagues do here.

Stefi Kerby is set to Dry July for the second consecutive year in support of her beloved Dad Stephen, who passed away in 2023 after a battle with Melanoma.

Stefi is the powerhouse behind popular lifestyle brand, Celia Loves.

After raising over $10,000 last year in support of Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre and cancer services, Stefi is aiming even higher this year with the backing of her community.

“I want to be able to give back and raise awareness, Barwon Health was amazing. Until you are in that situation, you don’t understand how much they do,” Stefi said.

“It was the worst time but they never took away Dad’s hope and that kept him going.

“The Andrew Love Cancer Centre tried until the very end and you think that’s just their job, but I feel they went above and beyond.

“The staff were just amazing and they can’t do their job without money.”

Dry July funds are helping Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre purchase a video endoscope tower and support the continuation of the Centre's wellness therapies such as art therapy, massage therapy, exercise programs, and group activities within the Wellness Lounge.

Wellness lounges are critical in enabling access to activities and providing a safe and supportive space for patients, carers, family, and friends.

Very few people are ever discharged from palliative care – but Wendy West is one such patient.

In December, it was thought she wouldn’t ring in the new year. Now, six months on, she’s taking on the Dry July challenge to fundraise for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre, the cancer service that has never given up on her.

The Geelong region local discovered she had terminal cancer by chance in June 2023, after she fell and broke her back. Doctors noticed swollen lymph nodes during a scan.

“Further scans showed I had small cell lung cancer, stage four. I was only 53 at the time and had no history of cancer in the family but I had been a smoker before.

“At that time, they thought I would have 12 to 18 months to live.”

Ms West says without the Andrew Love Cancer Centre, she would not be here today.

“More funding could help the centre keep up the ‘incredible’ innovations in treatment.”

Ali lost both her parents to cancer, almost two decades apart. Now, the mother of three has taken on the Dry July challenge for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre to help improve the comfort and care of patients and their loved ones going through a similar journey.

Ali is a property stylist and President of the Queenscliff Football and Netball Club, being so involved in the local community Ali knows the importance of supporting the Andrew Love Cancer Centre. “It changes everything, so the more fundraising we can do, the better things are for the next family that gets this news, and its so important that when that day comes, they have amazing services and supports available close to home.”