Ryan Holley

Please if you have a moment, consider donating to the amazing Cancer support services that provide care to those fighting cancer and others involved.

There are a few reasons I'm choosing to partake for those who know me well.

Firstly, on August 13th 2011, when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Cancer. This has been one of the biggest challenges I've ever faced in my life. I hit many road blocks and major complications throughout my treatment, but the support of those around me helped me to make it out till the end of treatment, which although halted after 3 and a half years of treatment with signs of my liver failing showed no visible signs of the cancer left.

The second reason and why I say Cancer has been one of the biggest challenges in my life is that one of my key supports, my dog Aj to most but my boy Ajax to me, was diagnosed with melanoma late last year and unlike me who had a chance at survival, his wasn't so kind and was terminal. Sadly at the start of this month he started showing signs that the melanoma had reached his liver and on the 4th of June I had to say goodbye to my best friend of over 13 years.

This brings me to my third reason, my good friend Amy Knudsen who is also participating in Dry July. Rather than letting this horrendous disease effecting those around her stop her in her tracks, she has decided to take action and this has inspired me to do the same.

If you have read this far I appreciate you hearing my story. This is one of many people's experiences as one in three people will experience the bully which is Cancer within their lifetime. My hope is that our effort will bring awareness and help support those effected.