Geelong basketball presidents go Dry for July

GEELONG’S local basketball presidents are pushing to raise as much money as possible before the buzzer sounds on Dry July.

The presidents of 17 Geelong United Basketball clubs have worked as a team this month, taking part in Dry July and are raising money for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

The nation-wide campaign challenges participants to go alcohol-free for 31 days as they seek donations to support those touched by cancer around the country.

With hundreds of players and members across the region, the Geelong United Basketball presidents have been motivated by the knowledge that, statistically, people in their own community have or will be touched by cancer.

At the time of press, the group had raised $25,092 and were sitting in second on the national fundraising leaderboard.
“It’s been a great journey this month to be involved within the Dry July fundraising and to raise money for a local cause being the Andrew Love Cancer Centre right here in Geelong,” Sharks Basketball Club president Paul Bugg said.

“When we heard that the funds would support a local organisation and local people touched by the disease, we all wanted to jump on board.

“We have been overwhelmed and very thankful for all the donations so far.

“We are really hoping to get towards that $30,000 figure and hope to stay in number two on the leaderboard when the month finishes up.”

Bugg said that the campaign has certainly been challenging for all 17 presidents, however well worth it for the overall cause.

As the overarching basketball sporting organisations in the region, the 17 presidents also believed that the campaign was strong to jump on board with as they feel it was important to continue promoting a healthy lifestyle for all.

“We’ve all got individual goals for the campaign, but it’s been terrific to get each other up and about for such an amazing fundraiser like Dry July.”

Since 2012, Barwon Health Foundation has raised over $1 million through Dry July to enhance cancer patient comfort, care and wellbeing at Barwon Health.

Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre and Cancer Services is a comprehensive, integrated service providing world class cancer care for adults across the Victorian Southwest region.

This year, with the community’s assistance, fundraising will support the continuation of comfort and care therapies and wellness programs delivered across the service.

The therapies include exercise therapy and art therapy and will provide patients receiving treatment both as inpatients and day stay patients with physical, mental and emotional health benefits.

The funds will also support activities within the Wellness Lounge, a space for patients and their families to seek support, comfort and simply retreat and relax.

With a couple of days remaining in the campaign the Geelong United basketball group are calling on the community to get involved and donate.

To donate visit www.dryjuly.com/teams/geelong-united-basketball