By NICOLE VALICEK
ONE Williamstown resident took on the Dry July challenge and vowed to spend the month without alcohol in the name of a good cause – and he didn’t touch a drop.
The first of August meant the end of Dry July, a challenge that Williamstown resident Ashley Starford and more than 17,590 Australians embarked on to raise funds for cancer patients.
The 25-year-old said partying and drinking was normally a weekly ritual for him.
When he heard about the challenge he thought it was a great way to break-up that routine.
“It coincided with me wanting to take a break from the booze,” he said,
“It became a ritual to be drinking twice a week (I thought it was) time to give my body, brain and wallet a break and become a bit more responsible.”
Ashley said he got a mixed response from his friends – some didn’t believe he could achieve complete abstinence.
“Some friends were sceptical saying ’good luck, it’s going to be tough, I can’t do that’, and I was putting myself in a compromising position, others said ’good on you’.”
“For me that wasn’t a problem – I wanted to prove to myself I could do it and I did do it.”
Ashley raised $250 for the cause and said he was glad to contribute.
This year 6055 Golden Tickets – which allow those doing Dry July to have a night off – were purchased, raising a total of $210,000.
Ashley, who did not purchase a golden ticket, said at times avoiding alcohol tested his will power but he always had a diversion.
“If it came up, I explored those avenues. It was a good way of keeping out of trouble,” he said.
Ashley said he would be up for the challenge again next year.
