No alcohol for the whole month of July – do you dare to do it? 

Local pediatrician Dr Chris Ingall and Our House director Rebekka Battista are both ready to give it a go– and give their livers a break at the same time. 

They are joining the annual Dry July national callout to ditch the alcohol - and raise money for cancer charities across Australia. 

For over 10 years, the month of July has been known Dry July and Rebekka said the team at local cancer charity, Our House, have been participating by going ‘dry’. 

This year, they encourage others in the local community to join them in going ‘dry’, or sponsor them for doing it.

The Dry July dare

“Dry July is a national campaign which started with a group of mates, one who had cancer,” Rebekka said. “The others decided to dare each other to go dry to raise funds. 

“Since then, Dry July has inspired more than 250,000 Aussies to go dry, raising $60 million for people affected by cancer. The money funds projects at more than 80 cancer organisations across Australia - Our House is one of these projects.”

Our House directors Brian Henry and Dr Chris Ingall.

Our House 

Rebekka said Dry July played an important role in funding the Our House facility. 

“It all started back in 2010 when the ABC North Coast highlighted the Our House project to the Dry July team from Sydney,” she said.

“They were enthusiastically supportive and Our House became one of the beneficiaries receiving over $250,000 in three years. 

“Now, 11 years on, the connection between Dry July and Our House remains strong. 

“Our House has become a guaranteed bneneficiary of Dry July - which means that the money raised this year by the Dry July Our House team goes directly to another 'Keep Our House Beautiful’ project; replacing the beds and the TV in the 20 rooms. 

“Each room will cost $1,400 to replace the 2 single mattress and install a Smart TV. 

Hard year

Rebekka said due to Covid, last year was a “particularly hard year” for fundraising for the charity.

“However, the Our House Dry July Team raised over $8,000 last year,” she said. “Along with a grant from the Dry July foundation, we were able to re-cover each of the sofa beds in the 20 rooms at Our House.  

“There was significant wear and tear and monies from Dry July grant will allow us to finance this huge job.

“So, it would be fantastic if this year, people help by either joining or support the Our House Team”

To sign up for Dry July, visit https://www.dryjuly.com/users/sign_up or donate to the Our House Team at https://www.dryjuly.com/teams/our-house-4