Make a Difference This October – Go Sober for October!

This October Macmillan Cancer Support are challenging you to give up drinking alcohol for the month to raise money to help them support even more people facing cancer.

Why not Go Sober for October this year? It’s just like a normal month but without the alcohol and hangovers. We all love a glass of wine after work or a beer down the local pub, but a month off will do everyone the world of good. Go Sober for October encourages you to make a difference to the lives of many cancer suffers and their families, as well as adopting a healthier lifestyle yourself by giving up alcohol from 1st to 31st of October.

It is recommended that to keep the risk from alcohol low, both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week. If you do choose to drink, it is best to spread your drinks evenly throughout the week.

Many drinkers are unaware that regularly drinking more than 14 units a week can lead to a wide range of long-term health problems, including cancer, stroke, and heart attack. Drinking 14 units of alcohol works out to be roughly 6 pints of beer or 7 glasses of wine. Cutting down on your alcohol consumption, no matter how much you drink, will significantly reduce the risk of long term health issues that could arise.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides support to cancer patients from the moment they’re diagnosed, through their treatment and beyond, they are right there with you, offering emotional, physical and financial support. Going sober for October will help change the lives of many people suffering from cancer and their families, all while benefiting your own health too.

Just think how amazing it’ll feel to go 31 days without a dreaded hangover. Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is what causes many of the symptoms of a hangover. Splitting headaches, sickness, dizziness, dehydration: anyone who’s ever drunk too much knows the consequences and they aren’t pretty! Other than copious amounts of water and a couple of painkillers, the only real cure for a hangover is not drinking in the first place…

Have you ever wondered why your skin looks tired and ill? Alcohol dehydrates your body generally, including the skin – your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink.

Drinking too much is also thought to deprive the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. You’ll be amazed at how much better your skin will look when you cut out alcohol from your diet.

One thing that most people don’t realise is the negative impact drinking alcohol has on their sleeping habits. More sleep will leave you feeling more energetic, improve your decision making and allow you to have better-eating habits. Giving up alcohol will see you wave goodbye to those bags under your eyes and say hello to that long-awaited beauty sleep.

Saving money is one of the best reasons to Go Sober for October. We all love a pint and a catch up with friends on Friday after work, but let’s face it… it’s never just the one pint of beer or glass of wine, is it? Most of the time it turns into a night out on the town where you stumble in the door at 4 am. And then you check your bank account on Sunday night to realise you’ve spent £80 on a few rounds that you don’t even remember!

You could save hundreds of pounds this October by going sober, that money you save could help you save for that new phone you’ve been dying to get, and you can even donate some of it to Macmillan to help support those with cancer.

A month away from drinking will give you time to focus on yourself, why not invest time into a new hobby? It could be anything, maybe you keep putting off getting fit and healthy, use the money you’re saving to join your local gym. You could learn a new skill, do yoga, read a book or join a sports club; anything you do will be more productive than drinking.

Most people think that they can’t have fun without alcohol, this is certainly not true. You’ll probably find you have more fun with no regrets the following day. Have a movie night with your closest friends, explore the wonderful sights of Plymouth, host a games night or head out to your favourite restaurant for a meal with your nearest and dearest.

But remember all along that going sober for October is helping millions of cancer patients receive vital support from Macmillan Cancer Support – you are making a huge difference to the lives of people who need it most, all whilst improving your own health in the process. And you might even find that the positive effect reduced alcohol consumption has had makes you drink less once the month is over.

Goodluck!!!

To find out more about Go Sober For October head to www.gosober.org.uk where you can register and help raise the funds to support cancer patients. If you want to find out other ways to help fundraise then go to www.macmillan.org.uk.