For the first time in four years, the Kidney Walk will happen in Prince George.
Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park at the Kiwanis bandstand is the place to be Sunday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to come out and support the BC/Yukon chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada and local efforts to raise money for the cause.
“After three years of going virtual (due to the pandemic) we’re real happy to be back in person again for the walk this year,” said Paul Ravelle, president of the Kidney Foundation’s Prince George chapter.
“It makes a big difference to meet and greet as opposed to going online to try and do everything.”
As of Friday morning, Prince George donors had contributed $6,095 with a goal of reaching $20,000 by Sunday. Heather Couch is the local leading fundraiser, contributing $2,460, followed by Sharon Kidwell ($1,020) and Clara MacKenzie ($465).
The BC/Yukon chapter has already reached a total of $143,883, 47 per cent of its goal to raise $305,000.
“We’ve had really good success over the 15 years, as an organization we’ve raised $3.2 million (chapter-wide) for research, education and, most importantly, patient support for anybody affected by kidney disease,” said Ravelle.
“Hopefully we’ll get a good turnout at the park and if people can’t make it out to the park they can still make a donation online.”
Money helps northern B.C. residents gain access to the Vancouver Kidney Suites, seven apartments in Vancouver that provide cost accommodations to a patient during the recovery process after a kidney transplant.
It also fund the Northern Travel Initiative to pay for gas, food and lodging for people who travel to Prince George to train for home dialysis.
Registration for Sunday’s walk starts at 10 a.m.
