Geelong Cats have backed Newtown developer Rory Costelloe’s Dry July fundraiser in memory of his younger brother Justin, who died of cancer in 2018.
“Of all of our siblings – he was probably the cleanest, healthiest, most-outdoorsy person,” Mr Costelloe remembered.
“He loved sport and always cooked fresh food. It just goes to show it can hit anybody.”
The Cats donated a signed team jumper to the quest, with former champion defender Andrew Mackie organising the memorabilia for a prize draw for donors.
Mr Costelloe pledged to match any donations dollar-for-dollar in the final week of July, after raising about $7000 in his first three weeks of giving up the grog.
The Villawood Properties founder had topped up his fundraiser twice to match donations by this morning, bringing his tally to $13,200.
“We’ve sent it through our entire Villawood community, which I think is 10,000 people,” said Mr Costelloe, who is a board member of Barwon Health Foundation.
“The money we raise in Dry July will go toward practical ways of improving the comfort of people struck by cancer.
“It might be advice from specialist nurses, or finding accommodation, maybe getting into a wellness program … if we work together we can all help make cancer patients, and their families, a bit more comfortable during what is a really tough time in their lives.”
Meanwhile, Geelong Cats great Billy Brownless has raised another $46,000 for Barwon Health Foundation by abstaining from his well-documented love of “frothies” for Dry July.
To donate: dryjuly.com/users/rory-costelloe
