Tauranga residents have raised more than $23,000 as part of this year's Dry July.

A total of 170 people from the Tauranga region signed up to the fundraising campaign, raising a total of $23,129.56.

A total of $970,000 has been raised by the 76000 Kiwis who took part in the month-long event.

Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July and raise funds for people affected by cancer. It helps you get healthy and reflect on your own drinking habits, while raising funds for a good cause.

Since Dry July NZ Trust launched into New Zealand in 2012, the campaign has solidified itself as a part of Kiwi culture, with more people each year marking July in their diaries to put down the alcohol for a good cause.

'The introduction of Dry(ish) July in 2020, which allowed Kiwis to choose how long they go dry for, made it a little easier for people to get involved,” says a spokesperson from the trust.

'To date, Dry July has inspired 45,000 Kiwis to go dry, raising $6 million for people affected by cancer in New Zealand.

'This year, two new beneficiaries were welcomed into the Dry July NZ Trust family, Bowel Cancer New Zealand and Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand - they joined existing beneficiary Look Good Feel Better.”

The money raised by this year's Dry July participants will help fund:

-Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand (PCFNZ) program Prost-FIT

-Bowel Cancer New Zealand Charity specialist nurses

-Look Good Feel Better free community-based programmes for people facing any cancer

'Providing funds to these three cancer charities allows the Dry July NZ Trust to make targeted impacts, helping to improve the comfort and wellbeing of the patients and loved ones of those affected by cancer.

'Donations for the 2020 campaign close at the end of August, after which Dry July beneficiary organisations will receive funding to implement the planned projects.”

It's not too late to donate to this year's campaign, visit the Dry July website for more information – www.dryjuly.co.nz.

For updates, follow Dry July on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.