WHEN you raise your glass to welcome in the New Year tonight, will you have the willpower to make it the last time you do so for a whole month?

A young man from York has helped ‘tea’-off a charity fundraising campaign, encouraging people across York to banish the booze throughout January.

Cancer survivor Harry Baines, who was named Charity Fundraiser of the Year in the York Community Pride Awards 2012, has pledged to swap pint glasses for tea cups in a bid to pot funds for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research and has got a full set of team-mates to join him.

It’s all part of Dryathlon, which challenges those who are man enough – or woman enough – to get sponsored to drop the drink in the New Year.

Harry, 22, of Fulford Road, has been joined by family and friends to make up his Dryathlon team, The Thirsty Phoenix, inspired by their favourite local, The Phoenix Inn in George Street, York.

Back in 2010, Harry, then 19, developed a lump from the bottom of his chin up the side of his jaw in just over two months. He was diagnosed with paediatric follicular lymphoma – a rare form of cancer.

After 12 sessions of intensive radiotherapy at Sheffield’s Western Park Hospital, he was given the all-clear. He now has check-ups every four months and has used his spare time to helping Cancer Research UK.

Harry, who is in his third year studying English at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “I hope to have 15 Dryathletes in my Thirsty Phoenix Dryathlon team, including my brother Jack, granddad Roger, mum, dad, cousin Verity and my best mate Oliver.

“The Dryathlon is going to be a massive challenge for us as we all really enjoy our regular Friday night catch-up over a pint at the Phoenix. But they are doing it because, like me, so many people are affected by cancer and that makes us all determined to stay committed throughout the whole of January.”

Team-mate Oliver Finlay-Smith, 23, has been best friends with Harry since they met on their first day at Bootham School 12 years ago.

Oliver, a Masters student at York University, didn’t hesitate when Harry asked him to be a Dryathlete.

He said: “If you have had friends and family go through cancer you want to do what you can. When Harry got cancer it was a real shock for me, it felt bit surreal. I’ve been right there for him as a friend, but the Dryathlon is a great way for me to face my own challenge while supporting him.

“Harry is my regular drinking partner and we’ve shared many pints together in the Phoenix, so us doing Dryathlon together will really help us keep it up. We’ll just have to go for a pot of tea or coffee instead of a pint when we meet up.

“And I can do it not just for Harry but for many others affected by this terrible disease too. Giving up booze for a month has to be easy when you compare it with what someone has to go through when faced with cancer.”

Cancer Research UK hopes that men and women across Yorkshire will join Harry and his team and pledge to give up alcohol in January and raise money for vital research into all types of cancer.

For those who don’t feel they can commit to the full 31 days there’s the opportunity to purchase a Golden Pass, for a suggested donation of £15, which allows the owner to take 24 hours off – particularly helpful for weddings, birthdays or those who just fancy a big night out.

Nicki Embleton, Cancer Research UK spokesperson, said: “We’re thrilled that Harry and his team are getting behind us for our Dryathlon campaign.

“We’re hoping that determined men and women across the region will step forward and join him, uniting to make a stand against cancer.

“We’ll be supporting our Dryathletes the whole way, by providing lots of motivational tips via our website and social media channels.”

To sign up to Dryathlon, visit dryathlon.co.uk