Two years after receiving his new kidney Paul Duperron is feeling healthy and thankful that his days on dialysis are behind him.
As one of the organizers of Sunday's Prince George Kidney Walk, Duperron is eager to spread the message about what the B.C. branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada does with the funds its raises and the importance of signing up to donate organs.
"We see [a] transplant not as a cure, but as a form of treatment - but it's one of the better forms of treatment," Duperron said.
Duperron was on dialysis for four-and-a-half years, something he said was a life changing experience. He had to be hooked up to the machine three times a week, which made travel difficult because he had to book dialysis appointments in communities he and his family visited.
In addition, the dialysis process itself can be physically draining.
"You never know how you're going to feel after dialysis," he said.
Sometimes after his treatment he immediately needed to go to bed to get some rest.
Not only does a successful transplant improve the health and quality of life of the recipient, it's also a cost-effective way of treating kidney disease. Dialysis can cost more than $50,000 a year, whereas the one-time cost of the surgery is only about $20,000, plus about $6,000 a year for anti-rejection medication.
Only about one in five people have signed up to be organ donors, something the Duperron and other advocates would like to improve.
In the past people could sign up to be donors when renewing their driver's license, but now registration is done through BC Transplant's registry.
However, there have been an increasing number of living donors in recent years, including this year's honoree Adam Hrankowski.
The foundation provides a host of services to patients around the province, including in the north. Presently there are about 135 patients who receive dialysis treatment in Prince George and close to 750 kidney patients in northern B.C.
From helping to fund research to providing low-cost or no-cost suites in Vancouver for those receiving a transplant to hosting a camp for children with kidney disease, the money raised through Sunday's walk will help support a variety of programs.
This is the sixth year for the walk in Prince George and co-organizer Diane Duperron said it's grown each year. Last year there were 140 participants and she's expecting just as strong a showing this year.
In addition to the actual walk, Sunday's event will also include a silent auction, door prizes and entertainment.
The fundraising goal is $30,000 and so far over a third of that has been raised with a lot more expected to come in on walk day.
Registration for the walk opens on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UNBC Northern Sports Centre, with opening ceremonies set for 1:45 p.m. The walk will start at 2 p.m.
More information on how to become a donor is available at www.transplant.bc.ca.
