Drinkers go dry for BRICC

BALLARAT Regional Integrated Cancer Centre’s Wellness Centre is a beneficiary of Dry July fundraising, as local people take a break from alcohol this month.

The facility has received funds as a result of the campaign before, and Simone Noelker, Coordinator of BRICC Wellness Centre said this money has a wide impact on the wellbeing of patients.

“Last year it was about $40,000 which is a huge amount of money that goes towards supporting our programs that we run through the Wellness Centre over the year. It’s great being a recipient again this year,” she said.

“Our yoga classes and things like that cost $6000 a year to run. It enables us to run yoga classes to get cancer patients back into exercise. It’s a gentle form of yoga, encouraging to help with their movement and pain. For a whole year, that can be paid for through Dry July.”

The funds raised can also pay for weekly visits from the Delta Therapy Dogs, private and group art therapy sessions for stress and anxiety management across the year, a mindfulness program focussing on the present, and more.

“With Dry July, all those programs are done and dusted,” Ms Noelker said. “We don’t have any government funding for the programs so it’s just a really great way for us to guarantee those programs are running for the patients.”

If you’re interested in supporting BRICC via Dry July fundraising visit dryjuly.com and search for Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre. You can join the BRICC Dry July team, sponsor a registered participant, or simply donate at that page.