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Kidney disease is life-changing, says Donna Hunter. Her father lived with kidney disease for seven years, going for dialysis three times every week.
“Having a transplant wasn’t an option for him. Dialysis gave us seven more years with him – what a gift. And this is just one of many, many stories of how kidney disease affects families.”
One in ten Manitobans are affected by kidney disease, with many not realizing it until they’re in the later stages. Right now, over 1,500 Manitobans are on dialysis.
That’s why the Kidney Foundation is hosting a Pembina Valley Kidney Walk in Morden Park on Sunday, June 8th. Registration starts at 12:30 at the shelter near the park’s main entrance, and the walk begins at 1:00 pm, with participants following a circuit around the park.
Hunter serves on the Kidney Foundation’s volunteer committee. She says that with so many Manitobans affected, the Kidney Walk is very important.
“We’re raising funds very specifically for something that we don’t get government funding for. Boundary Trails Health Centre has a dialysis unit with 14 stations, but it’s at capacity, so you may need to go to Winnipeg, and those expenses are not covered. Our goal is to raise funds to support those who need that help.”
The Kidney Walk is now in its 11th year, and Hunter says the need is growing – financial assistance numbers doubled from last year.
“Even $50 is helpful. If you can get out there and challenge yourself to get more donations, more pledges, even better.”
To participate, just sign up online, then begin collecting pledges for the Kidney Foundation either in person with a paper form or online.
“If you reach out to me or the Kidney Foundation, we can help get you signed up,” invites Hunter.
But she says they’re also happy to have people just show up to join the event.
“We welcome all people. The Kidney Walk is not competitive, so if you come out with your athletic shoes on and want to make that your walk of the day, you can walk the circuit once, for a 15-minute walk. You can go slow, fast, jog, run, whatever you’re comfortable with. And then if you want to do the circuit ten times, absolutely, you can do that too. If the distance is too much for you, you’re welcome to hang back with the team at the picnic shelter and help cheer on others on the path. This is all about celebrating community.”
After your walk, you can enjoy a bottle of water, coffee, and a muffin – after that, Hunter says that your time is your time. If you want to stay and learn more about kidney disease and how you can help, that’s great. Or if you need to just do your walk and leave, that’s okay too. There’s no commitment. It’s just a matter of bringing people together.
“Even though this event is in Morden, this very much includes the Pembina Valley region, just to name a few communities – Morden, Cartwright, Crystal City, Somerset, Manitou, Notre Dame, Miami, Carmen, Roland, Winkler, Altona, Gretna, Morris – we’d love to see as many people as possible at the Pembina Valley Kidney Walk!
“I’ve seen this community and this region come together for many causes, and I know that we’re capable of making a difference together. We have a goal of raising $13,000, and with your help, we can achieve it!”
To participate, you can sign up online at www.kidneywalk.ca and be sure to choose the Pembina Valley Walk.
You could also show up last minute and sign up by making a donation in person!
If you’re too busy to attend the walk but still want to support the Kidney Foundation, you can donate online. Anything over $20 gets a tax receipt.
If you’re not able to make the Pembina Valley Kidney Walk, you could join the walk in Brandon on Sunday, June 1st, or the walk in Winnipeg on Sunday, September 21st. Or maybe you want to attend all three!
“It's more than a walk. It’s about raising awareness. It’s about meeting new people. It’s about getting fresh air and exercise. And it’s about standing up to kidney disease,” says Hunter. “If it hasn’t affected your life or the life of someone you love, with the statistics of one in nine, that very much could happen at some point in your life.”
To learn more or donate, reach out to Donna Hunter. You can call or text her at 204-851-1725 or send her an email at donnamarielilke@hotmail.com.