Going dry for dad, SA racing identity David Thomas
Meet the brothers doing Dry July to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation in tribute to their dad, who died in May less than a day after being diagnosed.
SA News
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THE champagne flutes are filled and a very special trackside toast has been prepared by Chris and Ben Thomas for their late racing identity father David, who died suddenly from blood cancer.
The Adelaide brothers, both aged in their 30s, are raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation as part of the national fundraiser Dry July. Their father died in May aged 64 – less than a day after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Chris and Ben never had a chance to say their final goodbyes.
“Friday he was diagnosed and he was being transferred to hospital for the start of intensive chemo treatment,” says Chris.
“He died Saturday night watching the football and before he was able to be transferred. We were going to see him on Sunday once he had settled in. The last time I saw him was at the (Morphettville) track the weekend before.
“It’s been pretty devastating.”
Known best as DT, the former Racing SA racing manager was known for his sports knowledge and promoting the SA racing scene on the national stage.
Since being established in 2008, Dry July, run by the Dry July Foundation, has seen 250,000 Aussies go alcohol-free in July, raising more than $60m for people affected by cancer.
This year, all funds raised through Dry July will support the work of Leukaemia Foundation’s blood cancer support co-ordinators who assist patients in accessing treatment and support.
More than 17,000 Australians were last year diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood disorders. These figures are set to double by 2035.
Dry July supports several well-known charities and the beneficiaries in 2021 are Leukaemia Foundation, Cancer Council, McGrath Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Australia, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Redkite.
To sign up, go to: dryjuly.com/leukaemiafoundation.
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