Helping people affected by cancer

Dry July Foundation funds Cancer Council's 13 11 20 Information and Support Line

Thanks to funds raised through Dry July 2019, the Dry July Foundation is proud to be funding Cancer Council's vital 13 11 20 Information and Support Line.

About Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support Line

We know that coping with cancer is challenging, which is why we deliver a comprehensive range of support services for all people, affected by all cancers, across every state and territory.

In 2018, we helped thousands of Australians get the support they need by answering over 41,000 calls through our 13 11 20 Information and Support Line.

Our 13 11 20 Information and Support Line is a confidential service, run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory, where you can speak to a specialist cancer professional about anything to...

Dry July Foundation has started distributing funds raised from 2019 Dry July campaign

We’re thrilled to announce the initial projects being funded from Dry July fundraising in 2019.

The following funding has been awarded to our major beneficiaries and campaign beneficiaries, and additional funding will be distributed to successful applicants of the Dry July Foundation Grant Program in November.

Major Beneficiaries

Cancer Council

Dry July funding will go towards the national 13 11 20 support line service. A confidential cancer information and support phone line, run by experienced Cancer Nurses, connecting Aussie cancer patients and their families to resources and services.

Leukaemia Foundation

This year, funds raised during Dry July will directly support the Leukaemia Foundation’s National Transport to Treatment Program....

Dry July 2019 helps continue the Wellness Program at BRICC

Thanks to funds raised through Dry July 2019, Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) will continue their Wellness Program, offering cancer patients massage, yoga, Art Therapy, Financial Counselling, Shiatsu, Mindfulness, Delta Dog visits, Reiki and more

In total, there are 15 different programs within the Wellness Centre to support patients, and the BRICC receives no government funding for Wellness Programs. Therefore, the Dry July Foundation funds enable BRICC to continue to offer these fantastic programs.

The Wellness Centre offers complementary therapies designed to relieve tension and may also reduce levels of pain, fatigue, nausea and anxiety in a safe and healing environment and to be supported, informed and empowered to...

A Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse is appointed in Launceston, Tasmania

Tasmanians impacted by prostate cancer now have increased access to a dedicated Prostate Cancer Specialist thanks to funds raised by Dry July Participants.

Jennifer Siemsen is a dedicated prostate cancer specialist nurse at Launceston General Hospital. Her position will expand the availability of the services to help more men and their families. This position will provide care and support across the North and North West of Tasmania.

Jennifer said she was pleased with this service increase to allow better coverage of the local demand for care: “I am delighted to be taking on this role to support and empower prostate cancer patients and their families in understanding and managing the often-difficult decisions, concerns and anxieties around...

Transport to Treatment in Alice Springs

There are a number of reasons patients have difficulty attending appointments with doctors, for procedures or treatment including:

-inability to use public transport due to weakened immune system

- not holding a drivers licence

- unable to drive due to treatment or medication side effects

- limited family or social support networks

- unable to access public or community transport

- financial hardship that prohibits the use of public transport or taxis.

Thanks to funds received from Dry July Foundation in 2018, a transport to Treatment vehicle has been purchased to help these patients. Knowing they have a reliable service to get them to and from treatment will certainly make a difficult time, a little easier for those affected by cancer.

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...

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...