Helping people affected by cancer

By participating in Dry July you've helped fund the Leukaemia Foundation's Blood Cancer Support Coordinators.

In the scary times that follow a blood cancer diagnosis, Blood Cancer Support Coordinators help families navigate the health system, share vital information to understand a diagnosis, and help access important services like accommodation close to life-saving treatment.

Here, Maddy shares a heartfelt thank you for the help she received from her Blood Cancer Support Coordinator throughout her son Darcy's cancer journey.

An anonymous donor has very generously donated $100,000 to our Dry July fundraiser!

This anonymous donor vowed to match all donations made to participants supporting Bendigo Health up until the 1st of August, and added a very generous personal donation!

Funds raised from Bendigo Health's Dry July Fundraiser go towards it’s Cancer Wellness Program; a program which supports the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of people affected by cancer. These therapeutic program activities (such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, oncology massage, walking groups and dog therapy) aim to enhance the lives of people affected by cancer as they endure a difficult time. The funds will also help establish a dedicated Wellness Centre within the hospital precinct to take undertake Program activities and time out for relaxation and...

DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT: Every donation to Bendigo Health will be MATCHED!

Thanks to the generosity of a wonderful donor, we're thrilled to announce that every donation made to Bendigo Health’s 2020 Dry July campaign before 1st August will be DOUBLED!

As you probably know, everything Bendigo Health raises through Dry July will go directly towards its Cancer Wellness Program and establishing a dedicated stand-alone Wellness Centre within the hospital precinct.

So please ask your friends, family and workmates to dig deep and donate to your Dry July page to help us raise as much as possible!

Watch this short clip with Bendigo Health’s Cancer Wellness Coordinator, Jenna Sing, explaining more about the program and plans for the Wellness Centre. We’d love you to share this with your networks too!

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Hazel Bennini's Story

Hazel Bennini was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2016. Thankfully she is now officially in full remission.

Hazel first noticed something wasn’t quite right when she returned from an overseas trip in 2015. “I noticed a lump in my neck in October. Following some tests I remember my doctor called me at 7.30am on Christmas Eve morning to tell me to head straight to St Vincent’s for a bone marrow test. That’s when I found out the cancer had become very aggressive.”

Hazel underwent Chemotherapy from January to May. It was a very difficult time but she credits the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital’s Cancer Centre Chemotherapy Day Unit for helping to ease the burden.

“The staff were absolutely fabulous, very caring. There’s a lovely lady who comes...

Going dry to support their patients

A team from St Vincent’s Oncology and Haematology ward are doing Dry July to give back to their inspiring patients.

6th Floor Dry July Team leader and Registered Nurse, Kate Gore said being in lockdown has made the team even more aware of how challenging life can be for patients diagnosed with cancer.

“We only have to make a small sacrifice by giving up alcohol for a month, whereas our patients make huge sacrifices daily, especially now. A lot of patients have long admissions and pre-COVID they could have visitors everyday but not during the pandemic,” Kate said.

The funds raised from last year’s campaign were used to purchase IPads. These have now been set up for the Virtual Visitor Program, which allows patients to connect with their...

The team at Nepean Cancer Care are battling for first place!

Who will take home the Dry July Trophy and have bragging rights for the next twelve months? Last year’s winner Dr Deme Karikios raised $13,133.25, will he keep his title or will another crusader take his place?

Funds raised will directly support cancer patients in our community undergoing treatment at the centre.

Send the team a message of encouragement and keep those donations rolling in.

A message from Bendigo Health Cancer Centre

Cancer Care Coordinator at Bendigo Health, Jenna Sing, has established a pet therapy program, personally adopting a black Labrador named Sharlee and achieving her public access license for an assistance dog! Jenna explained, “Pet therapy within cancer setting is extremely beneficial for oncology patients as it has the ability reduce stress and anxiety often associated with medical appointments and cancer treatment. Sharlee our pet therapy dog provides a calming presence within the Cancer Centre waiting room and it’s a valued member of the Cancer Centre team”

Sharlee has been in the Cancer Centre a total of 4 times and on Friday a patients didn’t even say hello to me, he just straight away said “Where is Sharlee?” This made me so happy...

Honouring the legacy of a war hero

For 41 year old Bree, losing her dad to prostate cancer was the most devastating moment of her life.

The decorated war hero and accomplished catamaran pilot fought off the disease for nearly two decades, before succumbing to its spread.

Bree says he will always be missed.

“Everyone who knew dad would speak of his unwavering positivity and optimism even when fighting such a terrible disease.

“Even when, in January this year, he was told he had months to live, he was still making plans to go to Bathurst in October. His next goal was to meet his next grandchild. He was more optimistic than all of us put together.”

His passing left the family in grief, but more determined than ever to make a difference by giving hope to others.

“I'm going...

By going Dry this July, you're helping St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne help people like Trevor.

Trevor Shewan loves to keep fit. Even at 70, he manages to cycle 40kms at least three times a week.

In 2014 Trevor visited his doctor because of an eye infection. His GP sent him to have a blood test that resulted in a myeloma diagnosis. ‘The first bit of good luck was my GP referred me to Haematologist, Associate Professor Hang Quach, at St Vincent’s Hospital,’ Trevor said.

A/Prof Quach started Trevor on a six month treatment journey to lower prepare him for a stem cell transplant in February 2015. Following the transplant, Trevor was put on a maintenance program.

‘Things were going well until I started to experience a form of ‘peripheral neuropathy’, which caused my feet and legs to become numb, and was very painful. Then when I...