How We Help
When you're diagnosed with cancer, it's hard to find the time or energy to think about anything other than treating the cancer. Dry July raises money to ease that burden, reduce stress and add a bit of comfort for those affected by cancer.
Everything we fund is to benefit the cancer patient and their families and carers. We aim to make a difficult time, a little easier for those affected by cancer.
To see the full list of cancer support organisations we fund, please click here.
Programs at Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre
Dry July 2016 funding will support 3 programs at ONJCWRC:
- Making Meaning Through Music (music therapy groups for people with cancer and for carers).Funding will support 4 x 8 week sessions over a 12 month period, with 12 people in each session. Music therapy provides a safe way for people experiencing cancer to explore and express difficult emotions.
- Mindfulness Based Street Reduction for People Experiencing Cancer. Mindful meditation practices are run in a supportive small group environment by an experienced accredited teacher. Practices include body awareness, gentle movement and mind training.
- Horticultural Therapy Program. Horticultural therapy is a process of using plants and garden related activities to assist with achieving...
Continuing the Oncology Massage Program
Flinders Foundation will use Dry July 2016 funding to extend the Flinders Infusion Suite (FIS) in-chair Oncology Massage Program to run for the entire year of 2017.
The program currently operates two hours a day, five days per week.
Flinders Foundation started this program in 2013 within the Flinders Infusion Suite in the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) and it has proven to be extremely popular with patients and staff. Since its inception there has been a growing evidence-base for the role of oncology massage for effectively managing physical and psychological symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment.
An experienced Oncology Massage Therapist attends the FCIC Infusion Suite to offer free 20 minute hand and foot...
7 East Patient Kitchen at The Alfred
The patient kitchen in ward 7 East at The Alfred was recently renovated using funds from Dry July 2015.
The upgrade included installation of a duel water filter tap which provides filtered cold water and boiling water from a unit above the sink; adding more storage; building a shelf for the ice machine; including a shelf for the microwave to free up bench space; and fitting out an area for bin storage. Patients spend a lot of time on the ward and these simple upgrades to the kitchen area will make the space a little more welcoming and usable - now more than one person can use the kitchen at the same time!
CoastCanCare Upcoming Programs
CoastCanCare is a supportive program for adults on the Central Coast living with cancer. The program's goal is to address the needs of patients and incorporates care domains in nutrition, psychosocial care, physical therapy, speech pathology, care coordination, and access to complementary therapies such as Music, Art Therapies. Dry July 2016 funds will continue to support CoastCanCare.
Currently scheduled programs include: 4 x 8 week Practical exercise classes, “Your Next Step to Wellness”; 3 x 6 week “Project Wellness” courses; 2 x “Staying Positive” workshops; and 2 x “Self-Care” workshops – facilitated by Quest for Life.
The program has recently released outcomes from its first 18 months, wherein it provided 250 hours of programs to...
Patient Arthur Cranston on CCQ's Interlodge Transport Service
Funds raised from Dry July directly benefits thousands of Queenslanders impacted by cancer.
Last year, your funds helped Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ) offer an Interlodge Transport Service to regional cancer patients staying at our accommodation lodges in Cairns, Townsville, South Brisbane, and Herston.
The free service transports patients and their carers from our lodges to local treatment facilities, as well as to and from airports and major transit centres.
Each year our Interlodge Transport Service provides more than 10,000 patient and carer transport trips, helping to ease some of the financial burden that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
Rockhampton local Arthur Cranston was one of many Queenslanders who used the service this...
Hand Massage Program
Arbonne Independent Consultant, Virginia Rogers, visits Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre each week to provide free hand massage to patients in the BRICC Chemotherapy Day Unit. Virginia has been providing the weekly service since January 2016, thanks to the generous support of a grant from the Dry July Foundation.
Information Lounge
In its previous form, the Information Lounge (formerly the Resource Room) at Canberra Region Cancer Centre was underutilised and confusing. Patients were not sure if the room was for their use, or for the staff. There was very little space to display information.
With funding from Dry July, the Information Lounge has been made accessible and useful, with the removal of a wall, refitting of display shelves and computer desks, and a bookcase. Since opening in March, there has been an enormous increase in the use of the room, and the amount of information being accessed by patients and carers. Having the information on display and with the room having been opened up, patients and carers are utilising the space, and are now able to self...
Entertainment Trolley for Young Adult Patients
Canberra Region Cancer Centre loaded up a trolley with an Xbox, TV, Music dock, headphones, ipad and various games for use on the Xbox, using donations from Dry July.
Young people (aged 15-25) treated for cancer within Canberra Hospital are treated in adult settings – outpatient radiation and chemotherapy clinics and the inpatient ward (14B). There is no dedicated space for them or entertainment relevant to their interests.
The entertainment trolley is managed by the AYA Cancer Specialist Nurse and provided to patients in the cancer outpatient clinics, ward 14B and various wards around the hospital where young patients might be admitted.
I get excellent feedback from patients who have used the entertainment trolley. Often times these...
Upgrading Lilier Lodge in Wagga Wagga
Lilier Lodge is a dedicated patient accommodation facility in Wagga Wagga. Operated by Cancer Council NSW and Can Assist, the lodge was purchased in 2004 and has endured high traffic over the last 10 years.
Funds raised from Dry July 2015 enabled Cancer Council NSW to commence refurbishment works in February 2016. We have completed upgrades to 20 guest rooms and are currently in final stages of renovating the reception, common rooms, offices, family suite, main entry hallway and dining room.
Lilier Lodge provides cancer patients and their families a home away from home, keeping them together during treatment. Thank You Dry Julyers!