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

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Information and Support Services

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Specialist Cancer Nurses

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Wellness Programs

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Cancer Centre Improvements

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Accommodation and Transport

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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:

Cancer Council logo

Leukaemia Foundation logo

McGrath Foundation logo

Ovarian Cancer Australia logo

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia logo

redkite logo

To see the full list of cancer support organisations we fund, please click here.

Exercise and Cancer Program for SA cancer patients

Cancer Council SA is using Dry July Foundation grant funds to offer a weekly group program of 1.5 hours for guests at their Adelaide based Lodges, run by a qualified Exercise Physiologist. The program includes:

- information on exercise during cancer treatment
-risk assessment
-demonstrations of simple exercises that can be continued at home
-goal setting

Cancer Council SA will provide the venue, publicity and free transport if guests need to attend at an alternative site.

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Oncology Care Packs

Following chemotherapy or radiation therapy, some patients suffer from dry, red, irritated and sensitive skin which can be uncomfortable and painful. St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne has sought out and purchases a care pack to help patients hydrate, protect, soothe and care for their skin during and after treatment. Another side effect of treatment can be cold hands and feet. To combat this, we’ve included some cosy MooGoo socks to help keep warm.


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Mindfulness Colouring Books

Mindfulness colouring books are they are therapeutic and have been proven to relieve anxiety. St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne has opted to use funding from Dry July to purchase booksfor cancer patients undergoing treatment.

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Support for Patients at The Canberra Hospital

The Canberra Hospital has announced it will be using Dry July 2015 funds towards the harp therapy program and towards a new resource room.

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.

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Patient Entertainment System for Cairns Hospital

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation is helping Cairns Hospital purchase 6 interactive patient entertainment and technology platform for use by cancer patients. The systems consist of a TV and a tablet that enables patients to keep in touch with their friends and do work or personal interest activities. Each system integrates with the hospital system and allows patients to work interactively to plot treatment goals with their doctors.

The system is essentially aimed at improving the patient experience by reducing patient isolation, acting as a patient portal for communication and information, and keeping patients connected with their outside worlds.

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Oncology Massage Program at Flinders Medical Centre

The oncology massage program at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) will run 2 hours a day x 5 days per week to offer free 20 minute hand and foot relaxation massages to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. The program will be fully funded by Dry July, until at least early 2017.

Massage has been shown to help relieve anxiety and depression, and enable a patient to relax.

Flinders is one of the busiest public hospitals in South Australia, serving the southern community of Adelaide and the southern region to Mount Gambier as well as patients from Northern Territory. The FCIC Infusion Suite has 12 chairs and two bed bays delivering treatment throughout the week. The unit sees approximately 300 patients, delivering more...

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Outdoor Area Furnishings for Cancer Support WA

Thanks to funding received from Dry July, Cancer Support WA has been able to purchase comfortable and beautiful outdoor furniture for patients to enjoy and relax during their visits to the centre. The funds were used to purchase a quality outdoor table and chair setting, and several beautiful benches which have been placed around the grounds in lovely shady areas. A marine-quality, durable cantilever shade umbrella was also purchased and set up near the outdoor table and chairs to provide shade and cover all year round. The cantilever mechanism of the umbrella allows the option to swing it into different positions to ensure that patients are protected from the sun.

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Patient Travel Assistance in the Northern Territory

The inadequate level of government travel assistance for people with cancer in rural and remote areas is consistently identified as one of the major shortfalls in the provision of cancer supportive care in the Northern Territory. It is regarded as one of the reasons that cancer treatment outcomes are poorer the further patients live from treatment centres.

Cancer Council NT is purchasing a vehicle to be dedicated to patient travel to assist in reducing this burden for Territorians, using Dry July funds from 2015.

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Sky ceilings at Royal North Shore Hospital

Royal North Shore Hospital has been able to install sky ceilings in the radiotherapy bunkers at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre using money from Dry July.

Installing Sky Ceilings makes an intimidating medical equipment a little more welcoming. It creates a positive, patient friendly environment. The patient experience is enhanced through these surroundings; it also helps the caregiver, nurse and doctor because patients are more cooperative. Art on dropped ceiling tiles and wall murals in healthcare settings has been proven to lower blood pressure, speed up recovery times and reduce overall stress and anxiety in patients.

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