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About Us

Dry July 2024 is proudly supporting : • Look Good Feel Better - Ensures any person facing cancer can access free, practical programmes to help them face cancer with confidence. • PINC & STEEL NZ - Supports people in their recovery from cancer treatment through their rehabilitation and exercise programmes. • Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ - Provides support services for men and their families affected by prostate cancer, including a freephone information line, a free counselling service, a nationwide network of support groups and Prost-FIT classes. See below stories of how these organisations will utilise the funds raised to help those affected by cancer.

Latest Updates


Michelle's Story

Cancer patient’s husband reveals: Look Good Feel Better helped her bounce back to life

They say it takes a village to raise a child. And it takes a community to help a cancer patient.

It can often be just as hard for loved ones to see someone close go through treatment, and they can feel helpless.

So when Michelle Nand came back from a cancer support group a changed woman, her husband Ron breathed a sigh of relief.

“There were times she’d just be sitting there…bawling her eyes out. You'd be helpless, you couldn’t do anything. Coming home from work, she was not doing anything, not wanting to go out, obviously because she was tired,” he reveals.

That was until Michelle attended a free Look Good Feel Better class, an opportunity to be with other people going through cancer. As well as being equipped with hand-selected cosmetics, and the practical tools and tricks to deal with the visible effects of cancer, the group session helped restore her interest in life and boost her confidence to start socialising again.

“I’d spent five months just been hiding home, with no hair, no eyebrows. And I didn't feel confident enough into going out in public.” the project manager says.

“Your body is not the same from the chemo. You have low days, really bad days. You go into a really dark place and you start thinking about the negative things.

“I needed to do Look Good Feel Better. I went with my wig on, when we were doing the makeup I took it off. I didn't care who was looking at me, because we were all in the same boat. It's not about just hair and makeup – it's about connecting with other people who are struggling and going through the same journey as you are,” the 40 year old reveals.

The change in Michelle is palpable.

Ron says: “She bounced back to life, bit more lively, more smiles, bit more chatty, back to her usual self. She's wanting to go out. So it helped both of us.”

The Look Good Feel Better sessions are for anyone with any type of cancer at any stage of treatment. Michelle attended just after finishing chemo and radiation treatment.

“When I first found out about my breast cancer, it was very emotional. I just couldn't understand what was going on when I heard the word cancer. It was like my whole life, just turned upside down.

The first thing that came to me was, ‘was I gonna die’. But I was lucky. I was treated quite fast. But the gruelling side effects of treatment made Michelle withdraw, and she became isolated.

“The class taught me how something as simple as cutting up a tee-shirt to create a soft head scarf was helpful. When you wear your wig, sometimes it's too hot and itchy and tight – that was a big highlight for me learning how you can wear your tee-shirt in a fashionable way.

“It is a really good programme and I would encourage anybody to attend it if they are going through their cancer journey.

“Cancer doesn’t mean you have to just stay home and cry like I used to do. You can enjoy life. There are ways to look better and go and enjoy dinner with your family, going to the mall or the movies.”

Michelle believes it has helped her be as positive as her teenage son.

“He's 13 years old. He knows I'm sick, but he's very positive, He said ‘Mum 75 percent of people survive it and I know you will survive. We will get old together.’

“Meeting those other ladies and how positive they were that just lifted me up in a really good way. And you look at their spirit and it gives you confidence that ‘if she can do it, why can't I do it?’

It just takes you to a different level, like from feeling yucky & down, and then being confident and going out into the public It encouraged me to go out more. I think I'm at a much better place.”

Graham's Story

Graham is a dad, an accountant, with a new love and recognition of the benefits of yoga (after years of trying hard to enjoy it!).

Graham found a lump in his groin. It was initially investigated, and found to be nothing of concern. However, when the lump didn’t go away further, more invasive investigations confirmed the diagnosis of lymphoma. Graham had follicular lymphoma, a cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. Follicular lymphoma is a type of slow growing (low-grade) non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“At the time of diagnosis, my doctor told me this was a readily treatable form of cancer. It took me a few months to realise that treatable doesn’t mean curable”. Then When Graham asked when the treatment including surgery was to start, he was shocked to be told “tomorrow”. At this point, Graham reflects; “you lose control, you don’t know what’s happening, your brain is going a million miles an hour and all this time it’s like you’ve jumped on a roller coaster and you’re completely out of control”. Suddenly Graham was undergoing chemotherapy, taking immunosuppressant drugs, drugs for nausea, antibiotics and antiviral medications. “There are so many things that are completely out of control, but things like choosing to participate in cancer rehabilitation, you can control. The exercise was something I had control over, it was something I could do for myself”.

Graham likes to share with others experiencing cancer the advice that was offered to him by a personal friend and oncologist; “You are your primary caregiver. You take responsibility for your health. The surgeons, they are experts, but they don’t know everything – you ask them, you challenge them, you find out”. This advice paid off more than once.

Graham was referred to a Pinc & Steel physiotherapist. He says, “she was wonderful. It was someone who wasn’t family, wasn’t a friend, I could just go and talk through my experience. Megan was someone I could ask questions of; she would research things or contribute to my recovery through her experience of other people with cancer”.

With a sporting background, motivation to stay active wasn’t an issue for Graham but fatigue and chemo brain were a reality and were the main challenges that cancer rehabilitation supported him to improve. He felt that cancer rehab kept him accountable for achieving his goals, aligning with the advise he had been given about taking responsibility for his health.

Since completing his cancer rehabilitation program, Graham now runs for an hour 3 times per week, he has completed the 30km Moonlight Marathon at Ben Lomond station near Queenstown and has written a book. He continues to be accountable for his wellbeing and is looking forward to the next chapter of his active life post cancer.

Murray's Story

Murray Eyles and the Marlborough Prostate Cancer Support Group

A Lot to Like with a Marlborough Man

Murray Eyles is a dedicated volunteer who has led the Marlborough Prostate Cancer Support Group since September 2020.

Murray is typical of men who get diagnosed with prostate cancer as a result of having regular testing. Cancer was a word he says he is accustomed to, having seen his mother battle cancer, which is why since the age of 40 Murray has routinely had prostate checks with his GP.

October 2014 will be a time Murray will never forget. It was when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Now at the age of 70 he stands by his decision to have regular checks, something he is very vocal about with other men and what drives Murray to volunteer to run the Marlborough Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Murray is as passionate about the Marlborough region as he is in creating awareness about prostate cancer and the need for testing and early diagnosis.

Early in February 2021 Murray found out about a new exercise programme called Prost-FIT, a programme designed specifically for men with Prostate Cancer from the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

 Murray started liaising with their local sports Stadium 2000 and the Cancer Society Blenheim. The health manager for the stadium Ricky White was more than happy to allocate a team member to “learn the ropes” of these specific Prost-FIT exercises. Our local Cancer Society got right behind this new exercise group for men and it resulted in the first session 11th August 2021 with 10 attending.

Since then, an average of 8-10 men attend each session, as being in Blenheim some of our group must travel out of the region for treatment.

Murray says, “my own personal perspective is that its great spending time getting some exercise with men that all have a same diagnosis. We now have an informal lunch after our weekly one-hour long session which has proven invaluable where we all share our own journey which has also helped others”.

He expands, “not only are the men benefiting from the exercise they get at Prost-FIT, they are also benefiting from the camaraderie of the group”.

November 2021, we held a breakfast for our local ProstFit men and encouraged their wives to come along and the general comment from the ladies was “I never thought that I would see my husband doing any form of exercise” so keep it going.

The Marlborough Prostate Cancer Support Group and the new Prost-FIT classes in Blenheim receive support from a grant via the Dry July (NZ) Trust. The Prostate Cancer Foundation has been a beneficiary of the Dry July campaign for the past two years and thanks the Dry July (NZ) Trust for their support. PCFNZ is looking forward to another successful Dry July fundraising campaign in 2022 to secure funding to continue to increase access to Prost-FIT for men with prostate cancer around Aotearoa New Zealand.

For more information about the Prostate Cancer Support Groups or how to attend Prost-FIT classes please visit www.prostate.org.nz or call the information line on 0800 477 678.

Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ can continue running their incredible weekly Prost-FIT exercise classes thanks to Dry July fundraising

You should feel so proud knowing that the funds raised this Dry July have enabled Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand to continue running their incredible Prost-FIT classes. 

Run by specially trained exercise professionals across 12 regions in New Zealand, Prost-FIT is designed for men living with prostate cancer, at any stage of their diagnosis, and helps to improve the physical wellbeing of people like Doug (pictured).

The benefits that exercise can bring to people affected by prostate cancer are endless; from increasing strength and reducing fatigue, to supporting mental health through mindful meditation, as well as much-needed time out connecting with people who have had similar experiences. 

Thank you!

Thanks to your Dry July fundraising this year, Bowel Cancer NZ can continue to provide vital support services for people affected by bowel cancer

Thanks to our Dry July community and their incredible fundraising efforts this year, Bowel Cancer New Zealand can continue to fund their wonderful bowel cancer specialist nurse, Victoria. 💚

Dry July funded specialist nurse, Victoria, facilitates patient support groups, and provides telehealth and online support for people affected by bowel cancer. Dry July funds have also enabled Bowel Cancer NZ to offer free physio rehabilitation and counselling sessions for patients.

For more information on the wonderful online and telehealth services that BCNZ offer thanks to your fundraising, head to https://bowelcancernz.org.nz/support/finding-support/

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