Helping people affected by cancer

Thanks to you, we raised over $32,800 for patients being treated for cancer at St Vincent’s!

On behalf of St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, we would like to thank you for supporting the 2022 Dry July fundraising campaign.

We are truly grateful for the support we received from the St Vincent’s Dry July team members. We appreciate the sacrifice they made giving up alcohol, while seeking donations through sponsorship from their friends, family and extended networks.

Your fundraising for Dry July has assisted St Vincent’s to purchase the following items: 2 x electric wheelchairs –valued at $8,000 each, 2 x BP Spot Monitors -valued at $4,400 each, comfort items including newspapers, biscuits, toiletry bags and ear plugs.

Our wonderful staff members and patients from the Chemotherapy Day Unit and the Oncology Ward are sincerely grateful...

Thanks to your Dry July fundraising you’ve helped fund Look Good Feel Better confidence-boosting program!

We are delighted to announce that with your help an astounding $82,889 was raised for Look Good Feel Better.

By taking part in Dry July, you’ve helped fund our confidence-boosting program, allowing us to support up to 828 Australians undergoing cancer treatment.

We are beyond grateful for your fundraising efforts and dedication. Over the past 12 months the Look Good Feel Better program has been able to expand its service offering. Thanks to people like you, we are able to provide those undergoing cancer treatment the opportunity to learn practical strategies to manage the appearance-related side effects of treatment, and improve health, fitness, mobility and mental wellbeing.

On behalf of Look Good Feel Better, we would like to thank you...

We are delighted to announce that with your help we raised an astounding $51,419 for Dreams2Live4

By taking part in Dry July, you’ve helped to fund Dreams2Live4 Dream Makers so they can continue to make dreams come true for adults living with metastatic cancer.

A dream has a remarkable impact, empowering adult cancer patients to find purpose again, bringing joy, hope and dignity into their lives. Our Dream Makers give them the strength to reach for their dreams, to have something to focus on away from the endless hospital visits and medical appointments. Some dreamers know straight away what their dream is, others need a little more time to digest what they are being offered and to work with our Dream Makers to make the magic happen. Most cannot believe that we can make their dream come true.

Thank you for taking on the Dry July...

The Mark Hughes Foundation raised an astounding $165,919 with your help!

Thanks to your fundraising, you’ve helped fund our Tamworth/Armidale Region Brain Cancer Coordinator position for the next 12 months.

We are now also able to provide all brain cancer patients across Australia with a MHF care pack.

Brain Cancer can be a lonely journey for patients and their families. The Brain Cancer Coordinator is with patients every step of the way, delivering personalised nursing care tailored for each individual patient and their families.

Every patient is also provided with a patient pack, including information on the disease, a patient diary and our famous MHF beanie – which is a symbol of hope. You have now enabled us to continue our support of patients and their families, and expand our program across Australia by...

Thank you for taking on the Dry July challenge for Ovarian Cancer Australia this year!

With your help, Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Psychosocial Support Team continue to provide a comprehensive range of clinical and psychosocial support specifically tailored to women with ovarian cancer.

This team includes counsellors, psychologists, a sexuality counsellor, and social workers who provide support for women experiencing anxiety and depression, sexuality and body image issues and financial toxicity.

As I'm sure you know, women with ovarian cancer have reported that the mental health tolls of this disease can be as challenging as the physical symptoms. It is vital that women have support in these areas as part of their treatment. Thanks to the funds raised during Dry July, our Psychosocial Team can continue to support women with...

Jessica's Story

I was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 Rectal cancer in December 2020. This is my second bowel cancer diagnosis; I was also diagnosed with Stage 1 in 2012.

Nothing prepares you for that feeling of being completely overwhelmed with the fear of what is to come. Will I be alive long enough to watch my son grow up? Will I be on chemo for life? Will I ever get to remission?

Cancer during a pandemic adds another level to the treatment. I spent over 50 days in hospital over the past 12 months, mostly alone due to restrictions.

Many times, I thought I couldn’t do it anymore, the treatment was brutal on my body and my mind. I had surgery complications, went into menopause and now have lasting side effects from the treatment.

But I did it! I made...

Danny's Story

An avid hiker and alcohol free for nearly eight years, Danny never expected to have breast cancer. But in late 2019, the unexpected became reality, when what Danny thought was a benign cyst in his chest was officially diagnosed as breast cancer.

Danny, 46 years old, has always lived a busy and active lifestyle, living by the beach in Rye and spending time with his family and friends. For years there had been a small lump in the left side of his chest, which he had had checked out previously and was dismissed as nothing to worry about. When he was back at the doctor a few years later, Danny thought he may as well get it looked at again while he was there, eventually leading to an ultrasound and biopsy.

It was on Christmas Eve in 2019 that...

John's Story

The Perth father-of-three was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 44 and underwent a robotic prostatectomy.

“I had no symptoms, but prostate cancer runs in my family, my dad and uncle were both diagnosed. My mum asked me to get my prostate levels checked, and after quite a bit of nagging, I went to my GP and got the test. We decided to just keep an eye on it. It was a horrible time for us, it was the worst feeling … not knowing. I had a tumour inside my body, could I potentially die? There were many sleepless nights and worry. About five months later my PSA readings went through the roof – from a 3 to a 7, which is what you might find in a 70-year-old, as levels increase with age. For men my age, the average PSA is usually between 0...

Prue's Story

“Imagine being told your child was going to pass away within two years if a transplant wasn’t successful — and then being told that you’re the donor.”

That was the reality for Prue from Townsville, mother of Chase, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, at just four years of age in December 2018.

Chase was not experiencing any common warning signs. "The first signs of illness were fevers and night sweats. These started on a Monday and they were a high 39+ for the days that followed," Prue recalls.

"By Sunday afternoon the fevers were 40+ and Panadol/Nurofen were no longer working. I decided enough was enough.... We headed to the hospital for some test results, hoping to be back by dinner time that...