On the Fence about joining us for 2013? Here’s why YOU should, straight from the mouths of past Kidney Marchers.

While we weren’t entirely surprised by the remarkable response of our Kidney March Community, we were both humbled and grateful by the incredible outpouring of their support.

We asked our Past Kidney March Alumni, “What would you tell someone who is considering registering for Kidney March, but feeling some hesitation?” The response was huge. And it further solidified why every September, we surround ourselves with some of the most inspiring folks on the planet.

Here’s what they had to say…. Click here to read more.

Mochi is my 6 month old Shiba Inu puppy and he loves to play with my dad’s dialysis line…

Mochi is my 6 month old Shiba Inu puppy and he loves to play with my dad’s dialysis line. Every evening, Mochi calmly waits for “bubbles time” in the hallway as my dad sets up the bags and the cycler. When the first drain begins, Mochi completely lights up! Click here to read more.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the heroes of the 2012 Kidney March….

We’re delighted to share the One Life Video that transpired from this year’s incredible Kidney March. We hope you love it as much as we do. Click here to read more.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada releases results of an economic study on the direct and indirect benefits of kidney transplantation

According to estimates, dialysis treatments cost the healthcare system approximately $60,000 a year per patient, compared with $23,000 for a kidney transplant, to which a further $6,000 a year must be added for anti-rejection drugs. Over a five-year period, the total cost of a kidney transplant is around $250,000 less per patient than dialysis. Beyond these figures, one also needs to take into account the improved quality of life enjoyed by transplant recipients, who can lead active lives and return to the labour market.

“From an economic standpoint, it’s obvious that kidney transplantation lessens the financial burden on our healthcare system. We should also remember that the strictly monetary costs associated with dialysis—those related to transportation, medication and loss of revenue – exact a heavy social toll as well: kidney patients have to undergo dialysis treatments three times a week just to survive and are often forced to withdraw from the workforce,” Dr. Yves Rabeau, professor of economics at UQAM.

The need to minimize the social and economic impacts of kidney failure in Quebec is urgent. The number of people suffering from the condition is on the rise, due mainly to the increase in diabetes and high blood pressure, which are precursors to kidney disease.

“We would like to see an increase in the number of kidney transplants. In fact, this particular avenue needs to be given priority within our healthcare system. It’s the solution that offers patients the greatest chance at a normal quality of life, not to mention the most economical option for society,” Dr. Michel R. Pâquet, chairman of The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee.

via Organ Donation – Quebec – The Kidney Foundation of Canada | La Fondation canadienne du rein.

Two Time Kidney Marcher, Lauren, has made Avenue Magazine’s 2012 Top 40 Under 40 for being utterly awesome.

Source: Avenue Magazine – Published Nov 1st, 2012 by Robyn Burnett

While Lauren Herschel’s day job as an ecommunications advisor has her managing online activities and social media for Bridgewater Bank, she is also a modern-day pioneer. In June 2011, she anonymously donated her left kidney, starting a paired donation chain that has resulted in four transplants.

Herschel’s curiosity in organ donation was sparked when a friend posted on Facebook that she was donating part of her liver to her father. After her own dad passed away due to cancer, Herschel started doing some research. She contacted the Kidney Foundation and was directed to Foothills Medical Centre and the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. “I had an ‘a-ha!’ moment. If I was healthy enough to donate, I could give somebody time with their family that they wouldn’t normally have,” Herschel says. Click here to read more.