Kidney March 2015 needs you! The Kidney Foundation’s National President tells you why.

We’re on a mission to stand up and make noise. We hope you will too.

Most people reading this have been touched by kidney disease in one way or another. If you’re like me, you’re endlessly frustrated by its nature. Debilitating. Incurable. Utterly relentless. To see people I know and love go through the daily reality of this disease is disheartening; but I have hope.

Kidney March began in 2010. We celebrate how far we’ve come in the field of research, we honour those we know and love who are affected by kidney disease and we put faith in a future where it’s no longer a silent killer that currently affects 3 million Canadians. And, most important of all, we do something about it. Something Big.

I’m asking you, to do the most you can possibly do to help plant the boldest flag humanity has ever attempted in the fight against kidney disease and the appeal for organ donation. I’m asking you to join us for Kidney March 2015.

Click here to read more.

Need to Know Info – Day Zero

Lots of folks are asking “what should I expect on Day Zero”, so here’s a brief run down. Day Zero is the spark to your wick… it will ignite your soul and your feet and get you ready for the three days ahead. Please mark your calendars as, in addition to the fun, there’s some business to attend to making it mandatory to attend. So mark September 4th on your calendar.

Date & Location
Thursday, September 4th at the Delta Calgary South (135 Southland Drive SE) – Bonavista Ballroom in the Tower Building.

Mandatory Check-in
At Day Zero you’ll receive your check-in package and proceed through several stations: tent assignment, donation drop off, waiver completion/drop off, and meal plan. Stations can be completed in any order so feel free to start where the line is the shortest. To save time, please fill out your waiver ahead of time: https://kidneymarch.ca/day-zero. Day Zero check-in opens at 2:15pm on Thursday, September 4th.

Mandatory Safety & Orientation Session
All Marchers and Crew must attend a mandatory Safety and Orientation Session. We are offering the sessions at three different times.

Session 1: 3:00pm
Session 2: 5:00pm
Session 3: 7:00pm

Each session is 45 minutes in length. We recommend arriving 30 minutes ahead of time to go through the check-in stations prior to your session. You will need more time if you are turning in donations. Please note, the 7:00pm session is typically the busiest (most people).

Mandatory Crew Meeting – 6:00pm
This is a Mandatory Crew Meeting for all Crew Members. As it is in addition to the Safety and Orientation Session we recommend joining the 2nd or 3rd session. At the Crew meeting you’ll be meeting your Team Leads and fellow Crew Members and preparing to confidently execute a flawless Kidney March.

Hotel
Our Official Kidney March Hotel is the Delta Calgary South. To ensure availability, call and reserve your room at 1-877-278-5050 or connect with them online at: www.deltahotels.com by August 22nd. Don’t forget to mention you’re with Kidney March to receive our special rate.

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Kidney March Patient Program – Pedal Power

Throughout dialysis units across southern Alberta, dialysis patients are participating in their own Kidney March. Challenged to complete 100 kilometres of activity, patients pedal on specialized bikes that are pushed up to the dialysis chair. So far Jake, pictured above, has cycled 500 kms en route to his goal of 800 kms by September 7th. Being active while dialyzing is shown to clear more toxins from the blood and we applaud Jake and all our participants! In addition to getting several other benefits derived from leading a more active lifestyle, these participants are also raising funds for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Jake is in the top five of our individual fundraisers for Kidney March.

You may have the opportunity to meet some of the Patient Program participants during the closing ceremonies. These individuals are not walking beside you in Kidney March but they are with us every step of the way.

Marcher #3 - Jake