Helping people affected by cancer

Therapeutic Harp Program + more at Canberra Hospital

Funding from the Dry July campaign and a grant from the Dry July Foundation ACT has ensured the continuation of the beloved therapeutic harp program at Canberra Hospital.

Harp therapy has been shown to help cancer patients cope with the side effects of their treatment, and can provide a sense of calm to patients who may feel distressed and anxious in a busy hospital environment.

The program at The Canberra Hospital is delivered by a certified harp therapist and has been funded by Dry July since 2012.

Additional funds have provided a water and ice station so patients do not have to leave their treatment area; waiting area refurbishments, a 12 month magazine and newspaper subscription and floral displays to brighten up the reception areas.

Dry July Foundation funds Arterie Carterie Program and more!

Chris O'Brien Lifehouse received an amazing $137,500 in funding from the Dry July Foundation to continue it's complimentary therapy program, 'Arterie Carterie'. Arterie is an innovative inter-disciplinary model of art in healthcare practice, specifically designed to improve outcomes for Chris O’Brien Lifehouse patients, families, carers and staff by easing the side effects of cancer and its treatment such as stress, pain, fatigue, isolation and depression. Arterie participates in a way that fits with the patient’s treatment – it is non-invasive, inclusive and supportive.

Additional funds also enabled the purchase of specialist chairs for the intensive care unit and wards, extend the Complimentary Therapy Inpatient Program that will...

Wellness Program continues on the Central Coast thanks to Dry July Foundation funding

Thanks to an $80,000 grant from the Dry July Foundation the continuation of the CoastCanCare wellness program is guaranteed to continue in 2019.

Workshop sessions include mindfulness; practical exercise education and goal setting; music and art therapy; tai chi; meditation and vision board planning have taken place in 14 different suburbs and utilised 19 different venues across the Central Coast.

Positive feedback from CoastCanCare participants include:

“This group has been my lifesaver keeping me focussed on the future not on my past journey”

“I loved listening to the different speakers. All people were friendly - helped me a lot with my rollercoaster day and gave me purpose”

“I love this program and have found it has made such a...

300 workshops funded thanks to Dry July 2018

A total $300,000 has been awarded to Look Good Feel Better Australia in the 2018 Dry July Foundation early grants round. This will fund 300 of the 1000 workshops that will run in Australia during the next twelve months.

Look Good Feel Better is a free national community service program run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, dedicated to teaching cancer patients how to manage the appearance-related side-effects caused by cancer treatment. Women, men and teens participate in practical workshop demonstrations covering skin care, make-up and head wear, leaving them empowered and ready to face their cancer diagnosis with confidence.

Workshops cover skincare techniques to address common side-effects like dryness and sun sensitivity; makeup tips...

Wellness Programs at ONJ Cancer Wellness & Research Centre

Oncology Massage, Gentle Yoga and an Oncology Dietitian were among the programs funded by the Dry July Foundation.

Patients at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, have access to a Multidisciplinary Team who are committed to ensuring they are cared for physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. The ONJ Centre are committed to supporting patients through every step of their treatment. They provide a caring and supportive environment and offer a wide range of Wellness & Supportive Care Programs to help patients and their family members manage a challenging time in the best way possible.

The Wellness & Supportive Care Team at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre...

Dry July Foundation assists with accommodation services for people affected by blood cancer

Every 41 minutes, an Australian is diagnosed with a blood cancer or related blood disorder. Blood cancer is the third biggest cause of cancer death in Australia, claiming more lives each year than breast cancer or skin cancer. For people living in regional and remote areas, a blood cancer diagnosis normally means urgent relocation to capital cities to access live-saving treatment. Each year, the Leukaemia Foundation supports more than 750 families from regional and rural Australia by providing free accommodation and services in the major cities, keeping families together and close to their loved one during treatment, for as long as they need.

And this year the Dry July Foundation is helping to make this possible.

Through the Dry July...

2018 funds provide sixteen state-of-the-art Entertainment Systems

The Andrew Love Cancer Centre Chemo Day Ward is currently undergoing a huge redevelopment; a project that has been 100% funded by the community through fundraising and donations. With no extra funds to replace the old TV's that patients use while having chemo in their chairs, Barwon Health were going to put the old TV's back in the Centre once the redevelopment was finished.

Instead, funds raised by supporters of Barwon Health Andrew Love Cancer Centre, plus an early grant from The Dry July Foundation Victoria and a generous donation by Rauland Australia, will be used to purchase a state-of-the-art entertainment system. Each of the 16 chemo stations within the new Cancer Centre will be kitted out with the 'Siemens HiMed Cockpit Bedside...

Providing accommodation eases the strain for rural families

At the young age of 30 years old, with 3 young children, Dubbo resident Regina Batton received the devastating news on Friday 25th August that she in fact had blood cancer. A day she will never forget.

Regina was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). With the average normal blood count range between 3,500 and 10,500, Regina’s blood test confirmed her blood count was only 34. She was rushed to her local Dubbo hospital immediately and given 4 blood transfusions to stabilise her.

The next day, Regina was transported to Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for further testing and what was to be ongoing painful bone marrow biopsies. Intensive chemotherapy treatment started the next day for 7 days straight (24 hours a day), followed...

Dry July participants fund physical health program in Geelong region

Dry July has funded an integrated physical therapy program available to all suitable in-patient and out-patient cancer patients. This program will be run across two Barwon Health sites/departments (In-patient Baxter 6 Haemotology/Oncology Ward and our Out-patient Supportive Care Centre. The program will include a wide variety of classes/therapy sessions from a mix of exercise facilitators and physio and would include the following:

- 'Living with Cancer' Exercise therapy

- Yoga

- Exercise Physiology ad physio

- Tai Chi

- Oncology Massage provided by oncology massage therapists.

This will positively affect suitable patients by improving health and well-being in general but also providing patients with something positive to focus on with...