We have 10 new classes already underway, or coming up, all thanks to the support of Dry July funding.

The most recent is the running of our very first Saturday class in Christchurch.

Ten women, two who had been waiting since October 2016 for the opportunity to attend a class, attended. The women had a wonderful day and took home the many tips and tricks to help them face their cancer with more confidence.

We were able to recruit and train new volunteers who were completely new to LGFBNZ and who will now be able to support the four new classes planned in Christchurch over the coming months. The feedback from the cancer patients and new volunteers was overwhelming. It really highlighted the need for the Saturday classes in the area. The smiles and sense of community that Dry July made possible was just so special.

The Dry July support will also help LGFB reach cancer patients in Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Wellington, Westport and Kerikeri over the next few months.

Dry July has funded the purchase of 3 humidifiers for Christchurch Hospital. These machines provide for earlier alleviation and minimisation of the radiation therapy side-effects, preventing dryness in the nose and mouth and can reduce the need for hospital admissions.

Southern District Health Board are putting funds from a Dry July grant towards 'Operation: Project Comfort'.

This includes a new in-patient ward kitchen, free standing information carousal in out-patients ward to hold survivorship, wellbeing, and other helpful information, treatment chairs for in-patient area, couches in radiation out-patient area and iPads in the oncology/haematology day unit and clinics to help with patient education.

Work has begun on the in-patient kitchen (pictured) with the existing area being made ready for installation. This will include proper shelving and cupboards as well as a dishwasher and bright and lively paint work. Watch this space! We will post updates as they happen.

Dry July funds have provided equipment to assist patient comfort at Nelson Tasman Hospice. The purchases included an Electric Lifter Chair for use in the in-patient unit and two oxygen concentrator units to go out to the community.

The oxygen concentrators are compact units used to deliver oxygen to those who require it. Whereas a tank has a set amount of oxygen that it dispenses, a concentrator filters in air, compresses it, and delivers air continuously. The air supply will never run out.

This allows patients to breathe easier and sleep better as they are not fighting for every breath. While symptoms such as shortness of breath are being effectively managed in patient's home, they can remain in their homes for longer, often right through to end of life, if that is their wish.

The Galbraith Infusion Centre opened to patients on Valentine’s Day.

It is a huge step forward for Counties Manukau Health at Middlemore because previously, all their cancer patients had to travel to Auckland for treatment.

While the service will be initially restricted to Herceptin treatment for those who have finished chemotherapy, it will rapidly expand to also offer clinic space, treatment rooms and chemotherapy infusions.

Dry July has played a major part in this funding $36,000 of the $117,000 cost of the project. 

In the picture are two of the four infusion chairs we have in place, alongside Lazyboy chairs and armchairs, so that there is the ability for patients to choose the device they find most comfortable. The infusion chairs are $6000 each.