Dry July NZ Trust

Last year, 57-year-old mother of two, Bridgit, was given some frightening news amongst Covid-19 and lockdowns – a cancer diagnosis that made her feel more isolated than most in New Zealand.

While the nation stayed at home, she was in hospital having surgery, followed by chemotherapy, and multiple side effects that meant more hospitalisation.

Bridgit soon came across Look Good Feel Better NZ sessions online and thoroughly enjoyed her experience, “It was the first time I've probably really got to talk about my experience and hear other women's experiences"

"It's so life-changing and transformative. And it just makes you feel so good.”

These sessions are free for anyone with any cancer at any stage of treatment, and include tips and tricks to disguise the visible side effects of cancer, while also providing a chance to spend time with people who understand what you are going through.

By participating in Dry July NZ and raising funds, you'll be helping to support Look Good Feel Better NZ's incredible community and online workshops, helping people face cancer with confidence. 💗

When John was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, there were no other indicators besides frequently needing to go to the toilet. After surgery and a prostatectomy, they realised that John’s cancer had gone beyond the prostate.

After having to go on a hormone treatment, John was aware that one of the side effects was the depletion of your upper body strength.

After having an initial assessment with one of Pinc & Steel’s physiotherapists, John quickly got involved with Paddle On – a stand up paddle rehabilitation program, for men and woman recovering from all types of cancer.

“Gradually with the support of the physiotherapists and the instructors, I started to discover what I could do - gaining strength, confidence and balance”.

“Paddle On for me was strength, support, fellowship and finding myself as an individual with potential again, rather than a cancer patient”. ❤️

40-year old mother of two, Hope, was a fit and healthy woman when she found out she had Bowel Cancer. Initially, doctors had said Hope was “too healthy” and “too young” when she first noticed the bleeding.

Hope soon found out that there’s no such thing as “too young” or “too healthy” when it comes to bowel cancer. Living in pain as her symptoms worsened over time, Hope was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer at the Charity Hospital in Christchurch.

Not long after, Hope and her aunt joined Bowel Cancer New Zealand's online support network - with their first visit to the online forum having a significant impact.

“As I read the stories and comments, I immediately started feeling less alone. I’d go to the support group and hear the real-life stories of those affected by the disease.”

Hope's health battle has taken a mental toll just as much as it has physically, which is why she also applied to Bowel Cancer New Zealand to receive free counselling.

By signing up and raising funds for Dry July, you will be helping to support the care and wellbeing of people like Hope, enabling Bowel Cancer New Zealand to provide these incredible services for people affected by bowel cancer. 💚

Read Hope's full story here: www.dryjuly.co.nz/2021/hopes-story 

In April we launched 3 new online classes: Managing Hair Loss & Regrowth, Brow Focus and Hand & Nailcare. These classes add to our existing online programme, where we encourage our participants to access as many classes as they wish, whenever they need the advice. They can still attend their local community class too!

We are fortunate to have Grant Betjemann, a professional hairdresser, who has experience helping some of his clients manage the often emotional and traumatic process of losing their hair due to treatment. His is supported by Cheryl, who has experienced hair loss so can share her personal experience and tips during the class.

These classes have proved popular and are helping any one, diagnosed with any cancer, at any stage face it with confidence.

Participant to Speaker to Facilitator!

These classes are run every month for any man at any stage of their diagnosis. Men are encouraged to join as many classes as they wish to.

Paul attended his first Look Good Feel Better “Feel Stronger Live Better” class last September 2020, after hearing about it through his local men’s cancer support group in New Plymouth (Men Can Talk).

These classes include an inspirational guest speaker which the guys can “chew the fat with” and receive some “take away” of value they can use in their life. We are fortunate to have had a great line up of speakers including Dr John Mayhew, Lance Burdett and Jake Bailey.

Paul is an advocate for improving lives of people with cancer and from his own personal need to adjust and re-establish direction in his life has produced and delivers a course called “Reset your New Normal”. So we asked him to be the guest speaker last November where he shared his open, honest and practical advice and experience to facing cancer/life with confidence.

Paul was a knowledgeable and friendly speaker – he ‘got it’. We were very happy when he agreed to be one of our men’s class facilitators. He ran his first LGFB men’s class last month that was well attended by over 20 guys (half from his men’s gym group!)