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We are incredibly proud of our Kidney March Family. Without them, we could not have gotten the Kidney March Experience message far. Every conversation, every tweet, every facebook status, every newspaper feature and every shout out has helped spread the word and for that, we are beyond grateful. We welcome you with open arms to be as Kidney March connected as possible. There is an amazing community with a strong voice out there and you can find it all here.

Want to get to know a few of your fellow Marchers? Visit our 'Marcher Stories' page under 'The Cause' to read more!

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Introducing Kidney March’s First Presenting Sponsor

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With gratitude and enthusiasm, we are thrilled to announce our Kidney March 2022 Presenting Sponsor, Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc.

Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. has been a Lead Sponsor for Kidney March for the past five years. Their level of support this year is monumental in helping Kidney March make the most significant impact possible for kidney patients and the future of kidney disease.

It is an exciting year for Kidney March. We have big plans, powerful goals, and we could not be more thrilled that Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. will be an integral part of it.
We want to extend a warm welcome back and thank you to Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. for their support.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season

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At this time of the year we are especially grateful for you, our kidney community. Your generosity, strength of spirit, and commitment to the cause is a gift that continues to improve the lives of everyone living with kidney disease. Our heartfelt wishes to all of you and your families, may you have a joyous holiday season.

From everyone in our small but mighty team, thank you.
We are truly grateful to have you as a part of our family. 

Please Note: Our office will be closed from December 23 to January 4, 2022. 
Please contact us with any questions or for support.

You’re Invited! 2021 Kidney March Celebration and Alumni Reunion

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Saturday, October 23, at 7:00 pm MT
Where: Online at kidneymarch.ca – It will premiere live right here on our homepage. 

It’s time to celebrate your accomplishments and everyone who has made Kidney March what it is today. Join us Saturday, October 23, at 7:00 pm MT for the Kidney March Celebration & Alumni Reunion!

We have a lot to be proud of and much to celebrate! Everyone is invited, all past and present Marchers and Crew, volunteers, donors, sponsors, friends and families, you are our Kidney March family and the kidney community!
Watch special messages from your fellow Kidney Marchers, see who won the top fundraising awards, be the first to see our 2021 video, plus we will reveal the 2022 Trailblazer item!

What is a Trailblazer?
Trailblazers are bold and committed. They take the first steps in the fight against kidney disease and for organ donation by registering before Dec 1, 2021 and pledging to raise $2200 for Kidney March 2022.  All Trailblazers will receive a special gift in recognition of their commitment, a high-end clothing item, and you wont want to miss it this year!
Register at: https://kidneymarch.ca/

Congratulations & THANK YOU

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Kidney March 2021!

You continued to fight united against kidney disease and for organ donation, no matter what 2021 brought our way. Your determination and commitment to making a difference in the lives of kidney patients and their families was heroic. It is because of you that Kidney March 2021 exceeded every expectation we had. Thank you!

Together we put kidney disease and organ donation on the virtual map! Nothing stopped you, not even the second year of a worldwide pandemic, you marched no matter what. Doing the most you could do from all across Canada. You blew up social feeds and shared your journey with so many around the world. Your unwavering dedication resulted in Kidney March 2021 raising $826,500 to fund lifesaving research, improve patient outcomes, support patient programs and organ donation initiatives – and the donations are still coming in! Bringing our total to over $10 million to date. Share your Kidney March achievement loud and proud, you’ve made Kidney March history!

The relationships we have formed be they virtual or in person, go far beyond the Kidney March weekend. We welcomed 95 new heroes to the Kidney March family this year, and we will continue to celebrate our community of support all year long. Stay connected on our social pages, @KidneyMarch on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Join the Kidney March Training Walks Group, Kidney March Crew Group and Strava Club.

Save the date for the Kidney March Alumni Reunion on Saturday, October 23. We will unveil the Kidney March 2021 video and celebrate everyone who made this year outstanding – Marchers, Crew, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and loved ones.

Register for Kidney March 2022 before December 1, 2021, to be a Trailblazer! As a Trailblazer, you pave the way for the year to come and you will receive an exclusive Trailblazer item.

It is our hope and in our plans that Kidney March 2022 will be hosted in person. No matter what happens, we are excited to make Kidney March 2022 another life-changing experience. Click here to register for Kidney March 2022 today!

From the Kidney March team and all those living courageously with kidney disease, thank you for being a hero in the face of adversity. Together we are changing lives, and we could not do it without you.

Sincerely,

Joyce Van Deurzen, Executive Director
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan Branch

 

Thank You and Congratulations Mattamy Homes

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Sponsor Mattamy Homes Receives National Special Appreciation Award!

Kidney March would like to congratulate and celebrate our Lead Sponsor, Mattamy Homes’ Calgary Division, for receiving this year’s National Special Appreciation Award from The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Mattamy Homes was presented with this award to thank and recognize their significant impact and contributions to The Kidney Foundation through Kidney March over the years. When 2020 forced Kidney March to pivot to virtual, Mattamy Homes continued their commitment to the cause. An event of this magnitude cannot succeed without the support of community partners like Mattamy Homes. Their commitment as a sponsor has helped Kidney March exceed its goals, creating more vital funding to meet the increased needs of patients and programs.

“Winning this award is truly humbling. We are so proud to be involved and we look forward to being involved for many years to come.” – Colette Showers

Laura Fleming, Colette Showers(Executive Assistant), Don Barrineau (President)

Laura Fleming, Colette Showers(Executive Assistant), Don Barrineau (President)

Kidney March welcomed Mattamy Homes into the Kidney March family in 2017, and they have stayed on board ever since. In those five years of sponsorship, Mattamy’s Calgary Division has donated over $33,500 towards Kidney March and played an active role. Mattamy’s employees have not only volunteered for Kidney March, but many have personally completed the 100KM challenge. When Mattamy Homes was looking for a new charitable opportunity to get involved in, they had no idea how many of their staff were directly affected or connected to kidney disease or organ donation.

At the core of Mattamy’s culture is their focus on community. “It starts at the top and spreads throughout the company. We want to focus our support on projects with big impact – projects where we can actually see the difference we are making, and that our people can get involved in.” – Don Barrineau, President of Mattamy Homes’ Calgary Division.

Mattamy Homes has been our camp spa and finish line sponsor for the last 5 years.
Keep an eye out for some fun to come from them in 2021!  

• See Mattamy’s ‘how to’ guide for your home Kidney March camps:
 Tips for setting up your at-home Kidney March Camp & Spa!

• Mattamy has also sponsored many of the pathways we use to train on in our communities. In Calgary, you will find the Rotary Mattamy Greenway, a 145-KM pathway system that circles the entire city. Check it out and plan a route at: https://www.parksfdn.com/greenway 

A special thank you to Kidney March Crew member Trevor Ferguson for introducing Mattamy Homes to Kidney March! 
Did you know many of our sponsors have been introduced to Kidney March by Marchers and Crew? View our 2021 Sponsor Guide to learn more and contact us to discuss sponsorship ideas and opportunities. 

Learn about the impacts made by your fundraising at kidney.ca-Our-Impact

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July Calendar Events

Events in July 2022

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July 31, 2022 August 1, 2022 August 2, 2022 August 3, 2022 August 4, 2022 August 5, 2022 August 6, 2022

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Kidney March

2 days ago

Kidney March
It's Canada Day!🍁Today we celebrate our diverse landscapes, world-leading kidney professionals, and supportive kidney community. As a friendly reminder, our offices are closed today. We hope yours are too and you're out on the trails and pathways training! Be sure to show us where in Canada your feet took you. Take a photo of yourself or your teammates proudly sporting Kidney March gear and share it as a comment to this post or to the Training Walks Group at www.facebook.com/groups/KidneyMarchTrainingWalks! Kick-off your day with this video of 10-time Kidney Marcher Tina Varner singing our National Anthem from the 2021 closing ceremony youtu.be/ht-XBW6OrnY?t=235#kidneymarch #kidneyfoundationofcanada #kidneydisease #OrganDonation ... See MoreSee Less

Closing Ceremony - Kidney March 2021

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Words cannot express how proud The Kidney Foundation is of every Marcher and Crew member who participated in Kidney March 2021! The Kidney March community ca...

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Kidney March

2 days ago

Kidney March
Did you know there are benefits to wearing your #KidneyMarch registration shirt for training and day-to-day?Your registration shirt is kind of like your team jersey and it helps you express your Kidney March spirit. It can prompt a conversation about why you’re marching and #kidneyhealth or #organdonation, lead to a donation, and allow others to instantly connect you to our Kidney March community. Wear it proudly everywhere you go! Also, when you see another Marcher out and about, you must say hello or cheer them on! Fundraising Tip: Consider carrying cards or a little sign with your personal fundraising page link/QR code for anyone you meet who expresses interest in supporting you. (For more details on making a QR code sign see our fundraising tips page on kidneymarch.ca or contact our team.) If you want to increase your Kidney March wardrobe, check out our store and the new 2022 items at kidneymarch.ca/store/ We've got tank tops, hats, pants, and tuberz, and more. All proceeds from the store go towards the Kidney March fundraising total in support of our #kidney cause! ... See MoreSee Less

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Kidney March

4 days ago

Kidney March
Timeline photosThe Public Awareness Award is given to a group or individual whose work through promotional media outlets have made significant contributions to public awareness of kidney disease and its related problems. This year, we are thrilled to present this award to Stephen Gillis and Michael Teigen, two committed Foundation volunteers. As a persevering and dynamic duo, Michael and Stephen spearheaded several successful endeavors such as creative social media projects, fundraising initiatives, and light-hearted entertainment pieces that progressed our mission by spreading awareness about kidney disease and organ transplantation. Stephen’s personal decision to share his story and first-hand experience with the process of organ transplantation, including on Green Shirt Day and during Kidney Gala events has encouraged many to make the gift of life – an incredible influence! Similarly, Michael’s efforts as the host of the BC virtual Kidney Walk event and Kidney Health Month Game Show prompted many to start important conversations about kidney disease. Read more here: kidney.ca/Celebrating-Our-Volunteers-2022-National-Volunteer ... See MoreSee Less

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Kidney March

4 days ago

Kidney March
Starting this June, hundreds of dialysis patients on 8 teams from all around Alberta kicked off their annual Kidney March Summer Exercise Challenge. They are creating awareness for kidney disease and organ donation, plus building a community of support with all whose lives have been affected. Christine Fysh is one of those participating this year. She started with only 5 minutes on the bike 3 years ago and gradually built it up. Now she is killing it by biking 2-3 hours every dialysis run and has improved her chronic knee pain! “Before the bike program, I sometimes used to sleep up to 20 hours a day. Now I just need a short nap after my dialysis treatments, and I have good energy to do all my daily activities throughout the week… My knees are less stiff, and I feel better overall.”Kidney March is proud to have partnered with the patients and renal staff in this program since year 1 of Kidney March. Instead of walking Kidney March for 3 days, patients will bike during their dialysis treatments over the course of 3 months. Every year they have a different theme, this year they’re virtually visiting famous movie locations across Alberta. They also have a friendly competition between dialysis units to see who accumulates the most mileage by the time Kidney March rolls around in Sept. We can't wait to celebrate this year's journey with them. ... See MoreSee Less

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