"We support it up here in terms of helping our people who travel to Auckland for their treatment.
"This year we've registered Project Promise as a potential project to benefit from the fundraising."
The project aimed to raise $3 million to build a cancer centre in Northland, Ms Inch said.
Health Promotion Agency (HPA) policy, research and advice general manager Dr Andrew Hearn said initiatives such as Dry July, where participants gave up alcohol for a set period, allowed individuals to reassess their relationship with alcohol.
"That's a good thing. It is also quite a novel way to raise funds for worthy causes."
The HPA - which has taken over the former Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) - earlier this month launched its "yeah nah" campaign, encouraging people to curtail their binge drinking.
Dry July originated in Australia in 2008 and has raised over $11 million for cancer patients to date.
Founder Phil Grove said the first weekend was often the hardest, but once that was over he reckons "it's pretty much plain sailing".
"You just realise how much more time you'll have and how much clearer your head will be on Saturday and Sunday mornings."
Those adverse to finding sponsors could donate the amount they would have spent on alcohol during July to their own campaign.
Meanwhile, Dry July participants who feel the need to wet their whistle can take a day off by purchasing a "Golden Ticket", allowing a 24-hour leave pass.
Registrations and donations can be made on the Dry July website - www.dryjuly.co.nz.
How to get through the dry spell:
Read, watch television or listen to music
Spend your time at parties talking instead of drinking
Play games such as darts, pool, cards
Start a new hobby, go to that car maintenance class you are always talking about
Learn a new musical instrument
Exercise more
Try non-alcoholic beverages. Mocktail anyone?
