Drinking any type or amount of alcohol increases your risk of developing cancer. The good news is, the less alcohol you drink, the more you reduce your risk. In fact, limiting or giving up alcohol can have health benefits like increased energy levels, sleeping better or weight loss.
While reducing your alcohol intake may seem challenging, it’s possible. Each year, thousands of Canadians across the country join Dry Feb and go alcohol-free during the month of February while raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Three participants – Doug, Ben and Vanessa – share their experiences!
Meet Doug: forming Team AVEVA and making deeper connections through shared experiences
In February 2021, after feeling like they had overindulged over the holidays, Doug and his wife wanted to improve their health and get motivated for the new year. They discovered Dry Feb and once Doug saw the event was in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, it made him want to participate even more.
“For me and my wife, the cancer cause is close to our hearts,” shares Doug. “Both our mothers died of cancer, and my wife’s sister passed away from leukemia at 8 years old. So, participating in Dry Feb has a personal meaning for us.”
Recognizing an opportunity to get more people involved in Dry Feb, Doug brought the possibility of forming a team of participants to the company he works for, AVEVA, as a way for employees to give back. Doug’s plan gained support at his Calgary office, so he expanded his idea for a Dry Feb team to the Toronto and Montreal offices as well. Eventually, a team of 25 people who decided to go dry was formed!
To keep people motivated, Doug gave weekly updates on the team’s progress and held virtual celebratory events like mocktail parties. In the end, they raised an incredible $15,000! For Doug, his favourite part of Dry Feb was forming deeper connections with his colleagues as they came together to support an important cause.
“Quite a few people shared how they had been affected by cancer – that was really touching,” shares Doug. “It always feels good to give back, but seeing the connections we made within the organization during Dry Feb was a highlight for me.”
Inspired by Doug? Sign up for Dry Feb and show your support for those who have been affected by cancer across Canada. The health benefits you can experience while going dry don’t have to stop at the end of February either! Hosting mocktail parties, setting reasonable goals for yourself and finding new social activities that take the focus off alcohol are simple things we can continue doing all year to limit the amount we drink and reduce our risk of cancer.