Instructions
A couple of thousand years ago, a travelling Jewish guy performed an amazing party trick – he turned water into wine. Well next month, for the whole of July, I’m doing a party trick of my own, but I’m going the other way. Wine is becoming water.
Why? Well, it’s all for a good cause. Dry July.
If you haven’t been a part of Dry July before, let me give you the basics. Throughout Australia a group of like-minded people will vow to give up the grog for an entire month in an effort to raise much-needed money for outpatient cancer clinics in our under-funded hospitals.
In its first year, Dry July raised over $250,000 dollars. Last year the figure grew to over $1.25million. This year, we’re aiming even higher.
And it’s money that’s much-needed. While hospitals are funded to provide treatment services for Australians with cancer, our system doesn’t acknowledge the fact that oncology outpatients may have to attend hospital for up to 12 hours a day, and few resources are provided to make them more comfortable at a time when they need a helping hand most of all.
So that’s where Dry July stepped in. The funds raised have provided simple amenities like furnished waiting areas, lounges to replace hard plastic chairs, free coffee and tea services, as well as some extended care equipment like chemotherapy chairs and treatment beds. Bets of all, last years Dry July helped to fund the establishment of an integrated patient database to help provide better patient care.
A month without booze, now that’s a challenge, especially for a bacchanalian chef like myself. Remember, wine is vitamin W!!! But the benefits of a month off the booze are huge. You’ll lose some weight, save some money, and re-set your body clock – it’s like a New Year’s resolution in the middle of the year. Best of all, you’ll help out a group of Australians for whom there is no support network.
So if you, or someone you know has had cancer, or perhaps you’d just like to help. Please log-on to dryjuly.com and sign up to become a Dry-Julyer, or simply make a donation to any of those who have already signed up. Perhaps you could consider just one alcohol-free night this weekend, and donate the amount of money you would otherwise have spent. $10? $20? $50? It adds up, doesn’t it!
To help me raise money for Australia’s much-needed outpatient cancer services, you’ll find my Dry July page at www.dryjuly.com/celebrities/details/edhalmagyi