CORNWALL, Ontario – Lamoureux Park hosted the second walk of the weekend this Sunday, Sept. 10 in support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
With many of the organization’s previous committee member recently retiring, Rachel de Waard, Senior Manager of Community & Fund Development says that there has been an increased focus on education.
“We’re rebuilding right now,” said de Waard. “I’m hoping we can establish a community leadership group to help spread the word about these events and connect with the local community.”
Statistically, 1 in 10 Canadians are currently living with kidney disease, having more than tripled in the last 20 years. The Kidney Foundation of Canada depends on fundraising efforts to help fund research and support families impacted by kidney disease.
“We give a lot of money to research, but patient care is another huge component,” said de Waard.
For dialysis patients, it is nearly impossible to get away for more than a day at a time due to increased medical needs. “If you’re on dialysis, the maximum time you can go away is one night,” said de Waard. However, Lions Camp Dorset has been accommodating those impacted by kidney disease for almost 40 years. “The camp has a full treatment centre, so they can actually enjoy a getaway with their family.”
In addition to helping fund Camp Dorset, the Kidney Foundation also provides short-term financial assistance, travel loans, as well as equipping the family with kidney-safe meal plans.
For those who have experienced kidney failure, there are three options available; dialysis, organ transplant, and determining their desired way of passing.
“Organ donation is a treatment method that can really help these patients live a higher quality of life,” said de Waard.
To learn more about how to become an organ donor, check out beadonor.ca
