Cancer patients benefit from alcohol-free July

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Dry July may have passed by unnoticed for many in Hawke's Bay - but the fundraising challenge is growing in popularity nationwide.

Throughout New Zealand, 6041 people abstained from drinking for Dry July - up from 4000 last year - raising more than $700,000 for various health organisations to help cancer patients around New Zealand.

Hawke's Bay was the second smallest for participation across New Zealand, with 135 people taking part, but they raised nearly $10,000.

Kate Taylor, from Takapau, took part in the month and said she thoroughly enjoyed it.

She said not drinking made a big difference in her life.

"I knew from a day to day basis that I would be able to get up and go, knowing that I hadn't had one too many the night before."

While she raised $200 for charity, she said at the same time a lot of people were taking part in the ice challenge and giving to cancer as well.

Mrs Taylor said she was mainly doing it for herself and the money saved and the weight she had lost had made it worthwhile.

Going back to drinking on the weekend made her think about the way she was drinking, she said.

"It was a very stark reminder of how damaging it can be on the body," she said.

This is the third year of Dry July in New Zealand and the seventh in Australia.