This year may be Donna Hunter’s first on the committee for the Pembina Valley kidney walk, but she is no stranger to the event or the cause.
Her mother sat on the committee “for quite some time,” and now she has taken up the reins. Her involvement, however, goes far beyond that still.
For Hunter, the walk is a chance to offer support, but it’s also a symbol of honouring a struggle that she knows all too well.
it’s also an act of remembrance.
The kidney walk
On the surface, the most basic components of the kidney walk, which takes place on June 8th, are fundraising and taking to the pavement for steps with a cause.
Hunter says that this year, the goal for the Pembina Valley is to raise $10,000.
“Ultimately, those funds go towards travel expenses, things that certainly are not covered in any other way for those who are battling kidney disease,” she says.
“Some of these folks have to go to Winnipeg on a regular basis because they can’t get into Boundary Trails, so imagine having to do that every other day or three times a week [and] the expense that would come with that.”
Hunter says that the funds raised at the kidney walk will stay in the region.
Beyond helping raise funds for individuals who need it, Hunter’s heart is in the cause in other ways, too.
7 more years with a loved one
Hunter’s passion for supporting those with kidney disease began when she witnessed the affliction alter one of her parents’ lives.
“[My father, Howard] was on dialysis for seven years,” she says. “When kidney disease comes into your life, you realize [that it’s] a life-changing situation to deal with.”
Hunter says that her father, who is from Morden, was fortunately able to receive dialysis treatment close by at Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC). Since others must travel further for the treatment, she considers this one stroke of good luck.
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Although the camaraderie among patients (Hunter says it’s an environment of “lifting [one] another up”) and exceptional staff at BTHC made the situation as encouraging and palatable as it could be, Hunter’s father still weathered a dialysis plan that saw him receiving treatment for three hours every other day.
Even though it would be a gruelling schedule for anyone, because of the circumstances, there was a silver lining to it.
“The good news is it gave us seven more years ... we wouldn't have had otherwise,” says Hunter.
“That is why I'm so passionate about this.”
A hereditary disease
As much as Hunter’s involvement in the kidney walk is related to her father, it is also connected to her and the rest of her family.
She says that her father had polycystic kidney disease, which is hereditary.
“It could affect me or one of my siblings,” she says. “It's an awareness that is embedded deep within me, and I want to do all I can to help.”
Hunter’s awareness that there is a possibility of experiencing kidney disease herself is one that she encourages other Manitobans to consider.
According to Hunter, about 1 in 9 people in the province will be affected by kidney disease in their lifetime.
An impact on life
When it comes to sharing with people who have not been acquainted with the illness, she stresses that there is no cure for the disease — the options are getting a kidney transplant or being on dialysis.
Either one, she reiterates, is “life-changing” forever.
“Let's just say, for example, you're working full time and suddenly you get hit with kidney disease and then you have to be on dialysis every other day or three times a week, and it takes up a part of your day — it’s going to affect your career,” she says. “It's going to affect any travel plans, and it'll affect how you feel at times.”
A (hopefully) sunny day
Although kidney disease is a grim topic, the kidney walk is one glimmer of hope that can combat it with support and positivity.
Hunter is looking forward to it.
“The reason I volunteer is obviously [because] it's close to my heart and it affected my dad, but volunteering just makes you feel good, and when you do something good for the community, when you do something good for a friend or a family member, or just do something good for yourself and get out there and get some fresh air, it just feels good,” she says.
Hunter encourages everyone, regardless of their fitness level, to participate in the kidney walk at Morden Park. There will be leisurely strolls, information packets, and a short presentation.
The family-friendly event takes place on Sunday, June 8th. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m., and the walk starts at 2:00 p.m.
For anyone who can’t attend but would like to support the walk or an individual walker, donations can be made here.
With files from Ty Hildebrand