A raft of well-known Kiwis, including netball star Casey Kopua, comedian Urzila Carlson, and Step Dave actor Sia Trokenheim, are swearing off booze for a month to support adults living with cancer.
Popular fundraiser Dry July is in its fourth year and a host of local celebrities have pledged to give booze a break in order to improve the wellbeing of cancer patients and their loved ones.
Famous faces who are Dry July Ambassadors this year are netball captain Casey Kopua, comedian Urzila Carlson, cookbook author Chelsea Winter, Shortland Street actor Jayden Daniels, Step Dave star Sia Trokenheim, broadcaster Carly Flynn, and radio presenter Nicki Sunderland.
Dry July is back for the fourth year in New Zealand and is open for sign-ups. Last year, those who ditched the booze raised over $744,000 for three beneficiary cancer services around the country to improve the wellbeing of adult cancer patients and their loved ones.
Who benefits from Dry July funds raised?
This year, six beneficiary services will benefit, with the Cancer Society of New Zealand and Southern Blood and Cancer becoming involved for the first time. The other three beneficiaries are Auckland Region and Northland Hospitals, Wellington Blood and Cancer, and Canterbury Regional and Haematology Service.
There will also be a new option this year to raise money for a general ‘Dry July Supporting NZ’ fund, which is designed to fund projects for those outside of the areas covered by the key beneficiaries.
‘You don’t often get the chance to raise money for charity by not doing something,’ says Dry July NZ Country Manager Scott Savidge. ‘Dry July is a challenge of determination, which also gives you the opportunity to examine your own drinking patterns and appreciate the value of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.’
Dry July improves the wellbeing of adult cancer patients by providing funds to create better services and environments for them and their families. In the seven Dry July campaigns to-date, 90,000+ participants have collectively raised over $20m, helping support 40 different cancer services across New Zealand and Australia.
How can I help?
It’s not too late to participate! Registrations for the event are open (you can carry it over into the beginning of August), or you can make a donation to a participant, a team, or a generic donation.
For more information, visit www.dryjuly.co.nz.
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