18/08/2026
🌟 Fundraiser Spotlight: Mikaela's Dry July 🌟
When Mikaela's mum was just two years old, she lost her mother to breast cancer (Mikaela’s Grandma is pictured in the news cutting). Decades later, cancer would continue to impact Mikaela's family and friends, inspiring her to take part in Dry July and raise funds for Eastern Health. Now, as a parent herself, Mikaela says she can't imagine the heartbreak of a young child losing their mum, or the pain of knowing you won't be there to watch your children grow up.
Years later, cancer touched her family again when her mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, advances in research, treatment and care meant her mum's story had a very different outcome. "She's thriving, healthy, loving life with her grandchildren, and I'm so grateful for that progress and the time we've gained together," Mikaela says.
Cancer has also impacted Mikaela's life more recently. Last year, she lost her dear friend Kieran, whose courage and resilience throughout his illness left a lasting impression "There's a strong irony in doing Dry July for him because he was one of my most reliable drinking partners at the footy, at Meredith, at the beach house, and pretty much anywhere in between," she says.
It's now been a year since saying goodbye to Kieran, and Dry July felt like a meaningful way to honour his memory while supporting others affected by cancer through Eastern Health's cancer services. "Kieran showed me what strength really looks like. His resilience and courage were extraordinary, and if I ever have to face something like that, I hope I have even half of what he had. So this year I'm going dry for a month for Kieran, a small challenge compared to the ones he took on, and I'll be thinking of him with every sip of a non-alcoholic G&T."
By fundraising for Eastern Health, Mikaela hopes her efforts will help provide support and care for people and families navigating a cancer diagnosis. "If raising funds through Dry July can help support even one more person, one more family, or one more service making a difference in cancer care, then it's worth it."
Mikaela's message to anyone considering Dry July:
"If you're thinking about doing Dry July, I'd say give it a go. A month without alcohol might sound hard, but it's worth keeping some perspective. Hard isn't going dry for 31 days. Hard is losing your mum to cancer when you're two years old. Hard is the treatment and uncertainty my mum went through. Hard is what our friend Kieran went through."
Rather than focusing on what she was giving up, Mikaela focused on what she was contributing towards. "Putting that energy into supporting people affected by cancer made the challenge feel worthwhile."
