Maeve & Oupa’s Army, Dry July

“Our reason for participating in Dry July is to raise awareness about bowel cancer after our dad, Peter was diagnosed with Stage 4 rectal cancer in March 2024, a month before his 67th birthday.

Dad’s only symptom was rectal bleeding, which he passed off as haemorrhoids (a life long affliction) until he had a life threatening bleed that resulted in 10 days in hospital and the shattering diagnosis.

Since his diagnosis four months ago, he has been hospitalised three times, received high dose pelvic radiotherapy, received nine blood transfusions, eight rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a bilateral lung biopsy, and countless CT, MRI, PET scans and x-rays.

Through it all dad has remained positive, upbeat and grateful for all the support and care he has received. He is such an inspiration to us.

We pray we continue to have more good than the bad times as we navigate the future fighting this truly awful illness alongside our brave dad.

Bowel Cancer Australia has been such a wonderful resource to our family. We have received amazing support and education from Jo the Bowel Care Nutritionist, who checks in with dad regularly. We pray that with research and future medical advancements, we see a future where no-one has to go through what our dad is going through and dad lives to see his beautiful grandchildren grow up.” – Maeve

If you were inspired by Oupa’s Army’s fundraising activities and would like to support Bowel Cancer Australia through Dry July, further details are available here.