Helping people affected by cancer
Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of our Dry July participants every year, the Dry July Foundation is able to fund projects and programs that improve the comfort and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.
Everything we fund is to benefit cancer patients and their families and carers. We aim to make a difficult time, a little easier for those affected by cancer.
Where the money goes
Information and Support Services
Specialist Cancer Nurses
Wellness Programs
Cancer Centre Improvements
Accommodation and Transport
Comfort and Support Items
Organisations we support
The Dry July Foundation is proud to support numerous cancer organisations across Australia.
Some of the organisations who benefit from our fundraising include:
To see the full list of cancer support organisations we fund, please click here.
Music and Wellbeing at Concord Cancer Centre
Dr Alan Lem is pictured here with participants of the Dry July funded Music and Wellbeing workshop held at the Sydney Survivorship Cottage at Concord Cancer Centre. During the program, participants play simple rhythms and melodies in the way that offers a rich and fulfilling experience both for the individual and the group as a whole.
Preliminary evaluation indicates that the most successful experiences were (1) singing and (2) particular musical instructions where musical activity was used to address specific physical and psychological faculties, for example movement coordination, levels of arousal, sensory awareness and mindfulness.
To quote one of the participants: “As you adjust to living with cancer, you might be inclined to do other...
Hospitality and Entertainment Trolleys At the Canberra Hospital
In September 2014 a volunteer program was established to assist patients receiving care in the new Canberra Region Cancer Centre (CRCC). Funds raised through Dry July have enabled the purchase of a new hospitality trolley and entertainment trolley to benefit patients receiving treatment in the CRCC at Canberra Hospital. The trolleys are serviced by CRCC volunteers.The hospitality trolley provides a welcoming tea and coffee service to patients who find it difficult to be able to access the beverage stations, especially when on their own, as well as providing a homely service with china tea cups and tea and coffee pots.It is available to patients in the Day Therapy Unit, Radiation Oncology and the Patient Clinics.
Volunteers also operate...
Patients Talk about Art Therapy at Mater Cancer Care Centre
On Wednesday mornings, a group of women gather in a room at Mater Cancer Care Centre. A trolley is wheeled in, filled with supplies. The woman behind the trolley is not a nurse but an art therapist. Instead of bandages, swabs and rubber gloves, the trolley contains tubes of paint, brushes and pastels. The other women in the room are cancer patients. A Mater Cancer Care Nurse comes in and gives each patient a hug to say hello. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed. Everyone takes a seat and the Art Therapy session begins.
Most of the women in the room are waiting for chemotherapy treatment. The drips cannot be made up ahead of time because the recipient needs to have a blood test first. Sometimes a treatment session can be delayed because the...
Artwork for Radiation Therapy at Prince of Wales Hospital
Dry July funds have been used to install beach scenes across the walls in the radiation therapy bunkers for the Coogee and Maroubra rooms at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. Such artwork has been shown to reduce patient stress while undergoing this complex and intimidating treatment.
Mobile Treatment Recliners in Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has helped Cairns Hospital purchase 2 Meridian mobile treatment recliners for the chemotherapy treatment area in the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre.
Murals at Royal North Shore Hospital
Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney recently completed installation of eight large photographic murals designed and produced for the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Radiotherapy. The right to use the images was kindly donated by the local photographers and the work sponsored by Dry July. The material used is very special, offering anti-bacterial and microbial MRSA protection.
Spurr Wing Renovations
Previous Dry July fundraising for Northern Cancer Service Tasmania has helped with renovations to a communal bathroom at Spurr Wing. Spurr Wing offers accommodation to patients receiving cancer treatment at Launceston General Hospital.
Entertainment for Patients at PA Hospital, Brisbane
Dry July funds were used to purchase several tablets for day oncology patients to use during their treatment (and connect to Dry July funded WiFi). Chemotherapy treatments can take up to 6 hours, so having something to use can help make the time go a little faster.Funds were also used to purchase six large flat screen televisions with free to air access for waiting areas in the day treatment ward, to give patients something to do while waiting for their appointments.
Admission Packs
Being diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment is a very overwhelming experience, with lots of questions, and multiple things to remember.
To help ease the process, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne have used a portion of their Dry July funds to develop an admission pack for patients going through chemotherapy for the first time, and provide them with as much information as possible at such a difficult time.