Colin Ambler/cvnznews.com
With Dry July just days away, cancer support charities say more New Zealanders than ever are seeking help as diagnoses continue to rise nationwide. Every 22 minutes, a Kiwi is told they have cancer — more than 2,200 people in July alone — and frontline organisations are struggling to keep pace with demand.
Funds raised through Dry July support three major charities: Cancer Support New Zealand, the Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation (PINC & STEEL), and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Together, they provide free rehabilitation programmes, exercise classes, counselling, support groups and wellbeing services for people navigating life during and after treatment.
Cancer Support New Zealand has seen a dramatic surge in attendance, with programme participation up 159% since 2021. The organisation has expanded from six programmes to 19 nationwide, reflecting the growing need for emotional and practical support. For Northland woman Michelle Stephenson, who is living with incurable cancer, the programmes funded by Dry July have been a lifeline. “Meeting other people on a similar journey helped me realise I wasn’t alone,” she says.
Advertisment
PINC & STEEL has also seen a sharp rise in referrals — up 58% in the past year — supporting more than 4,500 patients through rehabilitation designed to rebuild strength, confidence and quality of life.
Demand is rising within men’s cancer support too. The Prostate Cancer Foundation delivered 940 Prost‑FIT exercise classes over the past year, with more than 10,800 attendances. For Auckland man Doug, the programme offered more than physical recovery. “For the first time since my diagnosis, the weight of prostate cancer didn’t feel like mine alone,” he says.
Dry July CEO Gillian Odbert says the numbers show why fundraising is critical. “These aren’t nice‑to‑have services. They’re essential for helping people recover physically, emotionally and socially,” she says. “Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family and a community trying to navigate what comes next.”
Since launching in New Zealand in 2012, Dry July has raised more than $11 million through 61,000 participants. This July, Kiwis are encouraged to go alcohol‑free for 31 days and raise funds to support those facing cancer.
