Otago/Southland residents most generous regions in nationwide cancer fundraiser

Otago and Southland residents have proved they are an encouraging and compassionate bunch by donating nearly $22,000 to back their buddies taking on the Dry July Challenge – a popular nationwide fundraiser where participants take a break from the booze to not only feel better and healthier themselves, but to raise funds to support those living with cancer.

This impressive figure – which will continue to accumulate until the end of August – gives Otago and Southland a big tick as New Zealand’s most generous region in terms of average donations for Dry July, with many donors digging deep to give over $100 each.

Appreciation for the cause is widely spread of course, with average donor amounts being closely followed from the good folk in Taranaki, Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington.

Scott Savidge, Country Manager at Dry July NZ, looks forward to feeding money raised back into many cancer treatment services. “We have six beneficiaries this year, including the Cancer Society of New Zealand and Southern Blood and Cancer for the first time, so we’d love to be able to fund as many of their projects as possible,” he says.

The other three beneficiaries are Auckland Region and Northland Hospitals, Wellington Blood and Cancer, and Canterbury Regional and Haematology Service. There will also be a new option this year to raise money for a general ‘Dry July Supporting NZ’ fund, which is designed to fund projects for those outside of the areas covered by the key beneficiaries.

“Dry July is all about improving wellbeing for as many Kiwi cancer patients as possible, so between all of these fantastic services we hope to be able to make a difference right throughout the country,” Savidge adds.

For more information, or to donate, visit http://nz.dryjuly.com/.