Brother-sister duo Emma Milner and Brett Davis are hoping to raise more than $30,000 through this year’s Dry July challenge in support of their mum Valerie who was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer in 2018.
Daughter, Emma Milner, said last year they raised $25,000 for Cancer Council WA’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line, but are confident they can beat that in 2020.
“In October 2018, our beautiful mum Valerie was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer and given just 6 months to live with no treatment,” Ms Milner said.
“During some of mum’s darkest times battling cancer, she called Cancer Council WA’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line to seek help and guidance to assist her in navigating through the most difficult time of her life.
“We are so grateful to Cancer Council WA for this, and it is why my brother and I are taking part in Dry July again this year to raise much needed funds for such an important service.”
Mr Davis said he is so proud of their mum and is urging other West Australians to take up the Dry July challenge and fundraise for Cancer Council WA.
“It’s been a long journey for our family, but mum has proven that a stoic, resilient and positive attitude can go a long way,” said Mr Davis.
“She is our superhero, our very own wonder woman and I am fiercely proud of her and the way she has approached this hideous disease.
“We are appealing to our friends and family to donate so we can beat our fundraising amount from last year. And for those who know someone who has been impacted by cancer, we urge you to take on the challenge.
“All funds raised for Cancer Council WA will directly help cancer patients like Mum and their families that are going through a cancer journey.”
Our CEO Ashley Reid said committing to the Dry July fundraiser was a great way to raise funds for an important cause.
“By going dry this July and fundraising on behalf of Cancer Council WA you’ll help us continue to provide our vital 13 11 20 Cancer Information and Support Line for all West Australians affected by cancer,” Mr Reid said.
“Our 13 11 20 Information and Support Line is a confidential service run by experienced cancer nurses and is available to those affected by or concerned about cancer. This service is not government funded – it is funded through the generosity of donors and fundraisers.
“The service connects Australians with relevant support, information and resources to help them through their cancer journey. Last year, the service provided support to more than 6,500 Western Australians.
Mr Reid said that participating in Dry July also yielded a range of health benefits.
“Going dry for July is a great opportunity to look at how you can reduce your overall alcohol consumption,” he said.
“Alcohol is a cause of cancer; research shows that every year more than 3,200 cases of cancer can be attributed to alcohol consumption, such as mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, bowel and breast cancer in women.
“There is no safe level of alcohol use, as any level increases the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer; with studies showing that the risk of cancer increases with increasing consumption of alcohol on a regular basis.
“To reduce your cancer risk and improve your health and wellbeing, we recommend you limit how much alcohol you drink or better still, avoid drinking alcohol altogether.
“If you choose to drink, limit your intake to a maximum of two drinks a day and make sure you have alcohol-free days.”
People wanting to participate in Dry July and help Cancer Council WA to continue supporting thousands of West Australians affected by cancer via their 13 11 20 Information and Support Line can sign up at dryjuly.com/cancercouncil.
To support Emma and Brett: dryjuly.com/teams/team-valerie
