Dry February is a national fundraiser that challenges Canadians to go alcohol-free for the month of February, while raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Ciana Van Dusen, Advocacy Manager of Prevention at the Canadian Cancer Society, said that "It's a really great opportunity to contemplate our relationship with alcohol, spread awareness, and do something that's meaningful for this cause."

Van Dusen explained that the most recent Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, stated that the less alcohol you drink, the lower your cancer risk.

"We know that drinking any type of alcohol increases your risk of at least nine different types of cancer."

She said that anyone interested in participating in Dry February can log onto dryfeb.ca, register, and start fundraising immediately. She added that it's shareable online via social media, as well as through word-of-mouth with family and friends.

"You can sign up as a team or as an individual. Challenge yourself, like I said, to re-think some of the ways that we have built our culture in society and our habits around alcohol and replace it with something else, be that like a tea, a mocktail, or non-alcoholic beers and wines."

She specified that funds go towards a few different areas, including world-class cancer research, the most pressing areas of healthy public policy where they lead change, and providing compassionate support to all those who need it.

"So it's a great opportunity to try something different and see how that feels," Van Dusen said. "We're receiving lots of feedback on so many different ways that people are experiencing benefits from reducing the alcohol that they consume."

Van Dusen added that they are really happy to welcome everybody to the Dry February campaign, and participation includes the opportunity to win all sorts of prizes. 

"So there's lots of incentives and this is a growing movement, so see what it's all about and try it on. We're really happy to have everyone join us."