Dry July, sponsor team AussieTheatre

You may have noticed a few Dry July banners flashing around the site over the past few days.

That’s right… Erin, your esteemed Editor in Chief, and I are giving up the booze for the month of July in order to raise money to improve the lives of adults living with cancer.

For me, Dry July, feels quite timely. I am about to celebrate a milestone birthday and with a couple of big changes ahead, a month without alcohol is nothing but a good idea.

It has also only been a few weeks since we raised a glass of red (or two) to remember my Father, who passed away five years ago from pancreatic cancer. While remembering Dad by not drinking is slightly ironic – the man loved good food and wine more than anything – it seems like the least I can do. Anyone who has had someone close battle cancer knows, it is a horrible disease. Dad had spent time in hospital but hated being there and being fussed over.

When he did pass it was due to a peptic ulcer bursting, a side effect of the chemo. He was at home, sitting on the couch with a glass of wine on a quiet Saturday evening and it all happened very quickly and for the rest of us it was very unexpected. Looking back I am very glad it happened this way. He didn’t have to suffer the indignity of a slow demise and with the end inevitable Dad would have much preferred to go out with a bang than a whimper.

The reality of cancer, whether it ends tragically or with a fight to recovering is that it involves a lot of time in hospital. Diagnosis, consultations, hours hooked up to machines and chemotherapy drips.

Dry July raises money for to improve the lives of adults living with cancer by partnering with a number of hospitals to fund projects that make the lives adult cancer patients just that little bit more bearable. In the past, funds that have been raised have gone to projects like patient monitoring software, chemotherapy treatment chairs, electronic lift chairs, installation of flat-screen TVs, renovation and painting of wards, replacement of furnishings within Palliative Care, family stay area upgrades and waiting area upgrades.

Erin and I have created an AussieTheatre team and we would love you to help us support this worthwhile cause.

AussieTheatre receives about 60,000 visitors a month, we are a strong and vibrant community and if we could encourage a small donation from our readers, I believe we can make a substantial difference.

Donate to Team AussieTheatre NOW

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Matt Edwards

Matt is a past owner of AussieTheatre, working as digital director from 2011 to 2019. He is also a performer, most recently appeared in the Australian tour of Mamma Mia! and previously in the Australian/NZ tour of CATS and Enda Markey's acclaimed production of Blood Brothers. As well as performing Matt keeps himself busy in the digital side of the arts working with web design agency Emptyhead Digital

Matt Edwards

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