Record number of Australians take on Dry July
Announcement posted by Dry July 07 Aug 2014
The beginning of August means the end of Dry July for 19,670 Australians who embarked on a booze-free month to raise money for adults living with cancer. This year, the campaign saw a 9% increase in participants from 2013 and those brave abstainers were supported by over 84,400 friends and family making donations. Australians taking part in Dry July 2014 have now raised a total of $3.64 million for patients at 37 different cancer services across the country. Donations remain open until 31st August at https://au.dryjuly.com/donate/.
For the first time this year, Dry July’s campaign was focused on the ‘Try July’ message – encouraging participants to imagine what they could achieve without a hangover and to set themselves a goal to achieve during Dry July. As a show of solidarity and to demonstrate the benefits of making healthy changes and being hangover free, Dry July set its own goal and embarked on a challenge to break as many world records as possible throughout July.
Dry July is now the Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest smoothie and the world’s largest Skittles mosaic. Dry July ambassadors also got on board with Marcus Bondi breaking a record for chin-ups and Justin Langer smashing two records: the highest number of cricket balls faced in a minute and the fastest time to dress in cricket whites.
Dry July co-founder, Brett McDonald, says Dry July has been a huge success in Australia this year: “The consistent increase in Australians taking part in Dry July is fantastic. Seeing so many go booze-free to help improve the wellbeing of adult cancer patients is incredibly gratifying.”
“It is through the generosity of people like you, your network of friends, family and colleagues that have helped us raise much needed funds for such an important cause,” says Jan Chapple, Nurse Unit Manager at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. “We have managed to fund a range of items we would never have been able to get through government funding including: our beautiful internal garden, a treatment and massage chair, equipment to lessen patient discomfort during everyday procedures, artwork, iPads and many more items to assist our patients and their families during this difficult journey. We are so fortunate and thankful to have such wonderful supporters. A big CHEERS to you from the team at St Vincent’s, thank you!”
In the seven Dry July campaigns to date, more than 90,000 Dry July participants have collectively raised over $20m AUD, helping to support more than 40 different cancer services across New Zealand and Australia.
Dry July was again supported by a stellar line-up of ambassadors who pledged to go booze-free in support of adults living with cancer. Media personality & Dry July patron, Adam Spencer,was again joined by regular DJs; Maz Compton, Chris Bath, Danielle Cormack, Justin Langer, Roy Billing, Michala Banas, Jana Pittman, Ed ‘Fast Ed’ Halmagyi and Brendan Cowell. For the first time, these seasoned abstainers were joined by Ben Mingay, Casey Burgess, Marcus Bondi, Kyran Wheatley, Tony Squires, Ryan Girdler, James Speed and Mark ‘Squinty’ Leonard.
Dry July improves the wellbeing of adult cancer patients by providing funds to create better services and environments for them and their families. Visit www.dryjuly.com for a full list of beneficiaries in 2014, information on past funds in action, celebrity supporters and fundraising tallies.
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Media Enquiries
Ellie Williams
PR Manager, Dry July
02 9247 6691 / 0409 533337
About Dry July
Dry July is the fundraiser that challenges you to go booze-free for a month to support adults living with cancer. It helps you get healthy and clear your head while also raising funds for an important cause. Dry July improves the wellbeing of adult cancer patients by providing funds to create better services and environments for them and their families.