And They’re OFF! Kidney March Patient Exercise Challenge kicks off this week.

Dialysis patients across Alberta begin their own Kidney March journey this week with the Tour of Alberta – Kidney March Patient Exercise Challenge!

It is also the 10th anniversary for this challenge. This year the Alberta Kidney Care patients and staff, in partnership with The Kidney Foundation of Canada, are celebrating both the determination shown by patients and caregivers, and promoting the importance of daily activity. Teams of dialysis patients and staff will be keeping active and working together to complete their goals between now and August 30th. They will combine distances based on exercise and activities in a virtual trip across the province. The teams will visit ten popular tourism hot spots throughout Alberta while passing through 24 different cities with hemodialysis units. The total route is approximately 6600 km long. *See albertahealthservices to follow their journey on the interactive map!

Through exercise during dialysis treatments and promoting the importance of daily activity, the teams will work together to achieve their goals and improve their overall health and happiness. In addition to increased energy, the benefits from exercise may include improved muscle physical functioning, better blood pressure control, and improved muscle strength.  Exercising during dialysis treatment also includes the better removal of urea from the blood during dialysis, and less cramping.

If you want to donate to their team in support of the challenge and Kidney March visit: kidneymarch2019/PatientExerciseProgram