By Sarah Frye – Dry July Fundraiser for Pancare Foundation

I’m doing Dry July for my dad, Richard Frye - the hero of our family and every one of the grandkid’s favourite humans.

Dad had a distal pancreatectomy in 2022 after a PET scan revealed a lesion on his pancreas.

It was a diagnosis that shook us all to the core. I still remember exactly where I was when he called to tell me. The words “they think I might have pancreatic cancer” hit like a freight train. I never want to feel that fear again - but I know just how lucky we are that we caught it early.

Let this be a true testament to the power of early detection. The only reason my absolute legend of a dad is still here is because he listened to his gut - literally. He noticed sudden weight loss, intense fatigue, and, oddly, a wave of terrible breath that came out of nowhere. He didn’t brush it off. He went to the doctor, asked questions, pushed for answers - and that vigilance saved his life.

That’s not to say things are easy now. Far from it. Dad faces ongoing challenges every day. He was lucky to survive, but that survival comes with a cost — a constant routine of medications and treatments just to help his body process nutrients and maintain a healthy weight. And then there’s the ‘scanxiety’ - that gut-wrenching lead-up to every check-up, where we all hold our breath, fearing the cancer might have returned.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most brutal cancers out there, with one of the lowest survival rates. But my dad’s story reminds me that outcomes can be changed - with awareness, early diagnosis, and access to the right support.

I’m the first to admit I wasn’t always the easiest kid growing up. I definitely put Dad through hell during my teenage years (sorry again, Dad). So taking on the Dry July challenge and raising funds for Pancare Foundation feels like the very least I can do - a small way to give back and honour everything he’s fought through with quiet strength and stubborn optimism.

Pancare Foundation supports Australians living with pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers. These cancers don’t get the attention - or the funding - they desperately need.

That’s why I’m choosing to go dry, raise awareness, and channel every dollar towards helping other families get the same chance we did.

If you’re thinking of doing Dry July, do it for someone you love. Or do it for the families who never got the phone call we did - the one that said “We caught it early. There’s still hope.”

Dad’s now focused on recovery, surrounded by grandkids who adore him and a family that’s beyond grateful. We get to keep making memories because he trusted his instincts and acted early.

So, here’s to you, Dad — my reason, my hero, my why.