Heather Lee Angland

Five years ago, on 1 July 2021, I signed up for Dry July, and never stopped.

What started as a month-long challenge quietly became the rest of my life. I've been sober ever since.

But that's not actually why I do this.

I signed up that first time because my Mom had cancer back in the US, and COVID meant I couldn't get to her. I was lost. I didn't know how to cope, how to help, how to be there from the other side of the world. Then Dry July appeared in my Facebook feed, and it felt like a sign. A way to feel connected to what she was going through. A way to do something.

My Mom is still here. And so is this cause.

Every dollar I raise goes directly to Barwon Health's Andrew Love Cancer Centre here in Geelong — funding wellness initiatives, essential medical equipment, and comfort and care for patients going through treatment and recovery. This is my community. These are my people.

If you've ever felt helpless watching someone you love face cancer, you know why this matters. Please donate. Even a small amount makes a real difference to real people right here.