Helping people affected by cancer
Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of our Dry July participants every year, the Dry July Foundation is able to fund projects and programs that improve the comfort and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.
Everything we fund is to benefit cancer patients and their families and carers. We aim to make a difficult time, a little easier for those affected by cancer.
Where the money goes
Wellness Programs
Transport Services
Accommodation
Comfort Items
Entertainment Items
Facility Refurbishments
Hospital Equipment
Information Resources
Organisations we support
The Dry July Foundation is proud to support numerous cancer organisations across Australia. Some of the organisations who benefit from our fundraising include:
To see the full list of cancer support organisations we fund, please click here.
Patient Update: Rob's Story
Rob was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and underwent surgery and radiotherapy the same year. Since then, Rob has used a feeding tube, attached to his stomach via a pump which he carries around with him in a backpack. He has not let this hinder his ability to get in to the great outdoors, making sure all his supplies are mobile to suit his active lifestyle. His cancer reoccurred in 2018 and he has been back at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre on a regular basis for further treatment.
Rob has enjoyed attending the Wellness Centre’s Dry July free patient programs, as he finds them to be extremely beneficial in helping him through his treatment – physically and emotionally. He has experienced oncology massage and reflexology, and has taken...
Creative Legacy Program features on TODAY!
Creative Legacy, the award winning arts and health project with Liverpool Hospitals’ Palliative Care service, continues to both evolve and delight. Thanks to grant funding from the 2018 Dry July Foundation, this year the program has trained 12 local professional artists in palliative care in the practice of legacy making with patients and families in palliative care. The program offers connection and joy through conversation and art making. The program was recently featured on channel 9's TODAY show and you can viewhere.
This year saw 5 new artists on the ward as well as several returning artists from the previously funded 'Reflected Legacy' project. New artists on the ward this year needed to be local and to be able to adapt their own...
Another successful BBQ at Nepean Cancer Care Centre!
Thanks to everyone who supported our Breakfast BBQ on Thursday 25 July 2019 at Nepean Hospital.
With your help we raised over $2,000 to support our campaign for improving the treatment experience of people living with cancer. Add this to our existing total and we could be nudged into third place on the leader board!
Support us in this final week of Dry July by making a donation to the Nepean Cancer Carers – every little bit counts!
Finding confidence again through gentle yoga
Cancer diagnosis and treatment is one of the most stressful experiences in patients’ lives and presents challenges for them both physically and emotionally. Thanks to funding from Dry July, a six-week Gentle Yoga program is helping patients regain physical and emotional confidence.
“Yoga enables me to feel better physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually,” says Jackie Edsall, diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2018. “I find yoga provides very necessary soul food for me.”
Melissa Shand is a Gentle Yoga instructor at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre (ONJ Centre) and says yoga can be instrumental in helping patients manage the stress of cancer treatment.
“There is growing evidence of the...
In 2018 Dry July Foundation funded 450 Look Good Feel Better workshops
Following the success of the 2018 Dry July campaign, Dry July Foundation funded 450 Look Good Feel Better workshops helping men and women going through cancer treatment feel more like their normal selves. Here's what some of the participants had to say:
“The Look Good Feel Better workshop felt like a huge reward at the end of my treatment. It encouraged me to move forward with renewed confidence. I also felt humbled to see other women, travelling a far harder and longer road, blossom and laugh in the nurturing environment of Look Good Feel Better.” Susan, past participant
“This experience was way above my expectations. It was fantastic to be amongst other ladies who were going through similar experiences to myself and to have the genuine...
BBQ success despite the rain!
Thanks to Les Hill, Emu Plains Lions Club, Woolworths Penrith, Bunnings Penrith, Health Professionals Bank, volunteers, and everyone who came to our BBQ fundraiser today. We raised a total of $778.60 – not bad for a rainy day! Keep those donations coming and help us reach and then smash our goal!
2018 Grant funding update: Mildura-based McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Louise James
In 2018, Dry July Foundation awarded a grant to McGrath Foundation to continue the placement of an existing McGrath Breast Care Nurse.
Louise James is a McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurse, based in Mildura, VIC. Louise has said, “I provide support to people with breast cancer and their families, coordinating their care and unpacking medical jargon so that each person understands what is happening. I give people time. Time to understand their diagnosis, time to decide on the right treatment for them and time to appreciate their timeline. I’m also incredibly passionate about breast health understanding and encourage people to get to know their bodies so that they know what is normal for them. Thanks to the support of the Dry July...
Dry July offering a room with a view
With the support of the Dry July Foundation The Alfred has installed a new sky ceiling to help patients feel at ease while undergoing radiotherapy treatment. By offering this room with a view we hope to be able to improve the overall experience a person has when being treated for cancer.
The caring and committed team of doctors, nurses and specialists working within our cancer services are continually looking at ways to improve their patients’ experience. The implementation of the sky ceiling panels above the radiotherapy machine will help do that. Patients could be undergoing treatment for up to 40 minutes, now they can look up and concentrate on the sky, the shapes of the clouds or the colours in the trees. It will give them something...
New treatment chairs for the Day Treatment Centre
The Calvary Mater Newcastle Day Treatment Centre is pleased to be able to provide our patients with a little more comfort with the procurement of two new chemotherapy treatment chairs thanks to Dry July fundraising. Not only do the chairs reduce the risk of pressure injuries for those patients receiving long treatments but they provide a place where patients can charge personal devices and a platform to support them.
Marissa Ledlin, Nurse Unit Manager of the Day Treatment Centre, comments, “Many of our patients are required to sit in the treatment chair for up to nine hours so it’s essential that they are very comfortable. Our new chairs with the silica upholstery are that and more – we call them the Rolls Royce of our chairs.”
The...