‘Good on you’: Moonyoonooka man Harley Royce thankful for Dry July aid

For Geraldton residents going dry – without alcohol – this July, Moonyoonooka man Harley Royce has three words: “Good on you”.

The 32-year-old is not a regular drinker and won’t be giving up beers himself, but he could only speak good words of charitable abstainers.

When he was unexpectedly diagnosed with aggressive blood cancer Burkitt’s lymphoma last January, Dry July fixed his bank account.

“The funding would have been in the tens of thousands of dollars,” Mr Royce said.

“They paid for our accommodation and we had food and fuel vouchers.

“Out-of-pocket expenses were low.”

The mine site worker said he was most grateful that Dry July money kept his family, wife Jess and children Adelaide, William and Belle, together while he underwent chemotherapy and had a tumour the size of a softball removed from his stomach.

The Royces have since returned to their hobby farm in Moonyoonooka, where they grow fruit trees.

Mr Royce, who has enjoyed about 12 months of remission, said he now felt as good as he did before his diagnosis.

The Leukaemia Foundation was announced as the new major beneficiary of Dry July fundraising last year.

Money raised by people giving up alcohol will help the foundation provide free accommodation to blood cancer patients and their families.

For more information and to register, visit dryjuly.com/register.