Helping people affected by cancer

BRICC is using Dry July funds for their Wellness Centre, helping to support people like Helen.

Helen was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, undergoing chemotherapy in 2016 at Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC). At a later stage, Helen became a volunteer with Ballarat Health Services in BRICC. Helen has just commenced chemotherapy again in 2020 after a return of her cancer and is back utilising the services of the centre. She is extremely enthusiastic about her commitment to be an Ambassador and to help raise funds for the BRICC Wellness Centre.

Helen believes the Wellness Centre is like a second home for patients, a welcoming place that provides comfort for people. This is the reason Helen volunteered at the Wellness Centre, she wants others to be able to access the services that she found extremely...

By supporting Bendigo Health this Dry July, you're helping people like Kate.

Kate Walsh’s breast cancer diagnosis came 16 years ago in 2004, when she was just 29. Following intensive treatment, Kate describes herself as “free and clear” of the disease. That changed 11 years later when she was devastatingly re-diagnosed in 2015. This time her breast cancer has metastasized.

Together with her husband, Darren and two young children – Lexie, a nine year old daughter and seven year old Archie – Kate has been navigating COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic has on their daily lives.

Her breast cancer continues to be treated through regular oncology appointments and chemotherapy treatments at Bendigo Health, and Darren takes care of the shopping and other errands so that Kate can avoid public places and the increased...

Our cancer nurses were the only support for Grant and Branka

For Grant and his wife Branka, our 13 11 20 support services were instrumental in helping them through a double cancer diagnosis.

The parents of two daughters had only been in Australia for a few years after moving from overseas and had no family around and little support when they received the devastating news.

“I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on Friday 15 February 2013. Just three days earlier, on the Tuesday, my wife Branka was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. We really relied on Cancer Council for support.”

Grant had begun radiation and chemotherapy straight away and someone had suggested he call us on 13 11 20.

“At this point, I was still feeling pretty lost and confused, I was shell-shocked and just wanted to know what was...

Dry July Foundation funds an upgrade to the patient courtyard at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre (NSCC)

With the funding provided by Dry July we have been able to perform upgrade works to our patient courtyard within the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre (NSCC). Given the current situation with COVID-19, social distancing and the need to protect our patients as they are particularly vulnerable during this time we haven’t had the chance to fully enjoy it but are proud to announce that we have almost completed upgrade works on the NSCC Courtyard.

The Northern Sydney Cancer Centre based at Royal North Shore Hospital treats people from across all of NSW and is focused on providing the best care possible to patients and their family. Providing a good patient experience is at the heart of everything we do, and often this goes beyond just medical...

Patients sit in comfort thanks to Dry July

Thank you to all the participants of the 2019 Dry July campaign who raised over $40,000. This fantastic result has enabled us to purchase four new treatment chairs for the Cancer Centre.

The Dry July campaign encourages participants to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer. Funds go towards helping to provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers.

One patient who has benefitted is Athol Atkins. Three years ago Athol started to feel unwell. A blood test showed his kidneys were functioning at just 10%. Athol was rushed to Warrnambool Hospital where he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer.

After six months of chemotherapy, Athol was accepted into a placebo-based worldwide...

Dry July Foundation Grant funding supports Northern Health purchase important comfort items for patients

Thanks to funds raised by Dry July 2019, Northern Health has been able to purchase their first Scalp Cooling Machine for Northern Health’s Craigieburn Centre – Day Oncology Unit.

The scalp cooling cap reduces the risk of hair loss during chemotherapy. By decreasing the scalp temperature and blood flow to hair follicles, the cooling caps alleviate the damage of chemotherapy.

They were also thrilled to have received funding for a Blanket Warmer to help patients feel warm and comfortable during their treatments. Kerry visits the centre fortnightly for treatment and reaches out for a warm blanket. “A warm blanket is comforting and helps with the aches and pains. When the blanket goes cold, there is always another warm one in the blanket...

Prince of Wales cancer survivor, Angela Wales, is grateful for the support given by Dry July Foundation

Angela Wales grew up the oldest of five children in Walcha NSW. Through her life she has worked around the world as a librarian (Cambridge, UK), field archaeological assistant (Greece) and travel consultant (London and the executive director of the Australian Writers Guild. She ultimately became Executive Director of the Writers Guild Foundation. The WGA West is one of the more powerful Hollywood unions, also representing writers working in film, television and other AV fields.

She retired from the Foundation and returned to Australia in late 2013 to help take care of her elderly mother. It was at this time she was diagnosed with breast cancer. While having her at chemotherapy at Prince of Wales Hospital - she decided that faced with...

Dry July funds help McGrath Foundation support people like Selena

Selena’s diagnosis

Breast health has always been important to me because my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 39. I was vigilant in conducting regular self-checks and planned to start getting regular mammograms when I turned 45.

When I was 42, I felt a lump in my breast and booked in for a mammogram. The BreastScreen bus was due to arrive in town in a few weeks. Fortunately, the lump I had found was benign, but the mammogram picked up some other lumps I couldn’t feel.

Further testing revealed these lumps were cancerous. Early stage, but cancerous.

Because of my family history, I didn’t want to take any chances, so I decided to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction, as well as genetic testing. The testing came back...

Dry July funds help Leukaemia Foundation support people like Joe and Chanelle

Blood cancer survivor, Joe and his partner, Chanelle benefitted from on-site personal care and support while staying at Leukaemia Foundation Patient Accommodation.

The couple have lived out at the Kalgoorlie Goldfields in remote Western Australia for the last 12 years. Joe working as a boilermaker and Chanelle as a hairdresser, life was bliss for the nature-loving couple.

“We are outdoors people and love going camping, fishing, hiking and bike-riding,” said Chanelle. “Every chance we get we drive the four hours to Esperance to camp at the beautiful beaches, we absolutely love it there and we love the ocean.

A blood cancer diagnosis couldn’t have been further from their minds when Joe started to notice shortness of breath last year.

When...