Support Dry July for cancer this month

Have you heard of the Dry July initiative? As the name suggests, it’s all about giving up alcohol in the month of July to raise money for people affected by cancer, their family members and supporters.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than one million people in Australia are either currently living with cancer or have experienced it.

It’s a great feeling to contribute to helping people with this disease that affects so many. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Dry July means and give you ideas for showing your support.

Tell me more about Dry July 2022

Dry July is an initiative that encourages people to go alcohol-free during the month and raise funds at the same time through a variety of activities.

The money generated helps fund services for people living with cancer, their carers and family members. Examples of these services include transport to appointments, help from specialist nurses and therapy programs.

Dry July started back in 2008 when three friends decided to abstain from alcohol for a month. They asked friends and family to sponsor them and raised an amazing $250,000 for local hospital services.

The month has gone from strength to strength since then, with over $73 million raised to date for people affected by cancer and projects to make their lives easier.

Dry July benefits

Dry July for cancer has benefits not just for patients, families and carers but also for anyone giving up alcohol.

When you give up alcohol for one month, these are some of the plus points you can expect:

• Improved hydration — Alcohol dehydrates you, so when you stop drinking it, you should see an improvement in your overall hydration levels as well as the quality of your skin.
• Better liver function — When you consume alcohol, your liver has to work overtime to process it, while heavy drinking can cause permanent damage. Take a break and your liver will thank you for it.
• Improved mental health — Because alcohol is a depressant, it can make you feel low once the initial buzz has worn off. Take a break and your mental health will get a boost.
• Easier weight loss — Alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories, so when you give up drinking, you should find it easier to shift any excess weight.
• Money saved — Taking a break from alcohol also means that you’ll definitely save money. All those drinks add up, after all! You can put what you’ve saved towards a healthier treat to reward you for your hard work.

How can I show my support?

The Dry July rules are simple — give up all alcohol for the month of July, raise money and show your support. Here’s how:

• Get friends and family to sponsor you for your dry month. You can create a fundraising page or use the offline sponsorship form available on the Dry July website.
• Why not create a team so you can offer each other moral support and pool your fundraising resources at the same time? Find out how to create a team using the Dry July resources here.
• Show your support on social media by posting regular updates on how your month’s going with pictures too. You can access social media images here.
• Run a ‘Create a mocktail’ competition among family, friends or workmates with a small entrance fee to raise funds. Use it as an excuse to get together and party without alcohol while enjoying some delicious creations.
• Raise funds by organising an office opportunity shop. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, as they say, so get your colleagues to bring in any unwanted items from their home and sell them to raise funds for Dry July.
• Use Dry July as an opportunity to volunteer at your local cancer clinic, ward or charity. You don’t necessarily need any experience in a health background, just a willingness to help others.

Start showing your support for Dry July today!

Not only is Dry July a worthy cause that raises money for cancer patients and their supporters, but it offers a whole host of benefits to anyone abstaining from alcohol for a month.

Get into the spirit of Dry July now by getting that sponsorship organised and stocking up on delicious mocktail ingredients.

It’s your opportunity to get healthy and promote a great cause too… so start showing your support now!