Mr Patterson, along with almost 300 Ballarat residents, are taking part in Dry July – a fund-raiser which challenges adults to give up alcohol for a month to raise money for adults living with cancer. 

About $40,000 has so far been raised for the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) with Dry July organisers expecting donations to flood in throughout August. 

“It’s for a good cause, it’s good for your health and it sends a good message,” said Mr Patterson, who plans to celebrate with a couple of quiet beers with mates on Friday. 

Mr Patterson, in his third year doing Dry July, has raised $1315, and has not had to purchase a “golden ticket”, which people can buy for $25 if they wanted to have a drink for a day. 

Sixty-six golden tickets were bought by people in Ballarat this year. 

Mr Patterson, the chief executive of North Ballarat Football Club, said he was motivated to abstain to raise money for BRICC and as a personal challenge. 

Last year Dry July funds went toward a video conferencing facility at BRICC.  The national project, in its third year in Ballarat, has raised $110,000 for BRICC. Across Australia, 19,649 participants have raised $3,068,106 in 2014.