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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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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

Meet some of our ‘Moms on the March’

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Why these moms are walking 100 kilometres for their kids

Kidney March is not your average walkathon. It is the largest walk of its kind in the world fighting against kidney disease and for organ donation. Danielle Sinclair, Laura McKenzie, and Kim Ball are three of the many moms who take part every year. For them, kidney disease is a lifelong battle they never imagined they would have to face.

There is no age limit to kidney disease and kids with kidney disease experience unique challenges that impact the whole family.  Danielle Sinclair is marching for her 10-year-old daughter, Teagan. Teagan has a rare kidney disease called Cystinuria that almost went undetected. She was diagnosed at five years old and has had six surgeries to remove large cystine kidney stones. Due to her disease, Teagan lost her right kidney. Danielle’s hope is that Teagan will not need a transplant in her lifetime. 

“If my daughter and all the other people on dialysis and with kidney transplants can go through these challenges, I can challenge myself to complete 100 kilometres,” said Sinclair. By raising funds for research and walking the 100 kilometres, Sinclair said she’s able to take an active role in creating change and finding a cure. She hopes that her participation also inspires people to become organ donors.

This past year has been especially hard for first-time Marcher, Laura McKenzie who is facing the new diagnosis of her four-month-old daughter. Laura had to go through a lot of this alone. Due to COVID19 protocols, only one parent was allowed at appointments. “You try to stay strong but … there is only so much a mother can do on her own without breaking down.” Until Laura decided to do Kidney March and share her story, she hadn’t told family and friends. “No one can really do anything for you… but with Kidney March, they now have a way to help and a way to support us.”

“There is just so much love and support in the community and it’s comforting to know that I am not alone,” McKenzie said.

One of the greatest things about Kidney March is it reinforces the support of the community for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Everyone can rally around the same cause, support each others journey, and connect from their shared experience.

 “Being part of the Kidney March family really gives me a sense of belonging,” explains Kim Ball, Calgary urologist and mother of three. Kim’s two-year-old son Liam’s kidneys have failed, he is on dialysis every night and needs a transplant. “As a mom, we want the best outcomes for our kids, we don’t want to see them suffer. So having this opportunity to hopefully better his future means a lot.” Liam’s father is just starting the process of testing through the donor program as he is the best potential match for Liam.  They are hoping Liam will be big enough soon so he can receive a living kidney donation by the end of this year.

Dr. Julian Midgley, former chief of pediatric nephrology at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, participates alongside many health-care workers in the unit to show support for their patients and raise awareness in the community.

“We get to know these patients very well and this is another point of contact and support for them,” he said. “I’m very proud how the Kidney March has become a bigger and bigger event every year.”

“Every year, we fund incredible research projects, that improve the treatments of kidney disease and bring us that much closer to a cure,” explains Joyce Van Deurzen, Executive Director at The Kidney Foundation of Canada Southern Alberta Branch. “There have been many advances made by our researchers, and Kidney March is a big part of that.”

1 in 10 Canadians has kidney disease. There are also very few warning signs. Up to 80% of kidney function can be lost without any noticeable symptoms.  Genetics can cause chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, especially in children and adolescents. Some of these diseases can be rare or even ultra-rare, and a lot is still unknown about them. These moms are marching so that more research can be done to find answers to those unknowns. Not only for their own little ones, but for future families.

A New Marcher Centre for Participants

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Announcing…. Your New Marcher Centre! 

We’re excited to share that we have updated our Marcher Centre and it is ready for you to use.

This new and improved fundraising hub has lots of helpful features to reach your Kidney March goals.

Start by logging into your Marcher Centre and explore the new platform.
 You will notice:

  • A fresh new design, making it easy for you to navigate and for supporters to follow your journey.
  • A dynamic dashboard with an overview of your efforts and achievements as they happen, and you can easily share them on social channels.
  • Strava integration! You can now add your Strava account to your Marcher Centre and have your activity automatically tracked onto your page!
  • Easy-to-use email tools that track responses when people open your emails or view your page (how cool!).

Bonus – Your new Marcher Centre adapts to any screen size. Manage and share from your phone or tablet and take your fundraising on the go!

Questions? 
 Click here to review our new Marcher Centre Guide and learn step-by-step all you can do in this improved fundraising hub.
​Take the 45-second tour of your Marcher Centre by clicking “Tour” in the top right corner after logging in.
Contact us! We’re happy to help you.
We hope you enjoy this new platform as much as we do, and happy fundraising Kidney Marchers

Kidney March EXPO

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You’re Invited to Kidney March EXPO

It’s time to reunite Marchers, Crew, family, friends and welcome new family members at our annual kick-off event, Kidney March EXPO!

Meet us online at 11:00 am MT, on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Discover the world of Kidney March, hear past Marchers and Crew share their
first-hand experiences, learn what to expect for 2021, and
join a live Q&A chat with the Kidney March team!

To attend EXPO through ZOOM, please register in advance. 
Use this link to register and share it to invite family and friends: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAscuiqrz8qGNJAJ5nLwl7dtOBb-IGCbrrS

Learn about this life-changing 100KM journey to fight against kidney disease and for organ donation. This online event will equip and inspire you to register for Kidney March and complete it this September. 

Kidney March alumni and registered participants – Wear your Kidney March Gear! After the presentation we encourage everyone to turn on their video for the live Q&A.

Following EXPO, plan to get active and head out for a training walk in your community. Be sure to post a photo and comment about where you walked on the Kidney March Training Walks Facebook Group . Or submit your photo to us through the Marcher Center photo upload link.

We can’t wait to connect virtually with you from coast to coast and beyond!

Once you’ve registered, share the registration link with family and friends to invite them to join you at EXPO!

What to Expect Kidney March 2021

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What to Expect for 2021

Kidney March 2021 is Going Virtual

To plan the best Kidney March possible, we have assessed our circumstances, and with your best interests at heart, we are proud to announce that Kidney March 2021 will continue in a virtual format. Our goal, as always, is to provide our Marchers and Crew with a life-changing experience while continuing our mission to improve the lives of those affected by kidney disease and organ donation. We are excited to bring the Kidney March experience to you again this year!

Watch the video to hear Joyce Van Deurzen, Executive Director, Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan and Laura Fleming, Manager of Kidney March, explain more on Kidney March 2021. 

Kidney March 2020 was an incredible triumph. We raised the 2nd highest amount in Kidney March history. We proved that no matter where we are across the globe, no matter what challenges or opportunities we face, our community stays connected, rallying in support of each other, marching no matter what! Look forward to the fun, interactive surprises we have planned to keep you connected while walking in your community. Stay tuned and connect with us anytime. Our team is here to answer your questions.

Special thanks to our sponsors for your continued support. We are so grateful.

Connect on the Kidney March Training Walks Group and join our STRAVA CLUB. Continue to train and most of all, support each other with positivity and hope. Stay safe and follow your local health guidelines.

Sincerely,

Joyce Van Deurzen
Executive Director, Southern Alberta and Sask. Branch.

&

Laura Fleming
Manager, Kidney March & Signature Events.

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July Calendar Events

July 2021
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June 27, 2021 June 28, 2021 June 29, 2021 June 30, 2021 July 1, 2021 July 2, 2021 July 3, 2021
July 4, 2021 July 5, 2021 July 6, 2021 July 7, 2021 July 8, 2021 July 9, 2021 July 10, 2021
July 11, 2021 July 12, 2021 July 13, 2021 July 14, 2021 July 15, 2021 July 16, 2021 July 17, 2021
July 18, 2021 July 19, 2021 July 20, 2021 July 21, 2021 July 22, 2021 July 23, 2021 July 24, 2021
July 25, 2021 July 26, 2021 July 27, 2021 July 28, 2021 July 29, 2021 July 30, 2021 July 31, 2021

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Kidney March

1 day ago

Kidney March
Why We March 👣 - Meet 12-time Marcher, Richard Preston.The essence of Kidney March is difficult to put into words. The feeling of accomplishment, the memories you make, and the impact you have. When Richard heard Kidney March advertised on the radio in 2010, he never thought it would become such an important part of his and his family’s life. “I had no idea it would turn into a life-long thing. I realized there was something special about the people who came together to complete such a feat and go on to do it again and again. It became my goal to do it every year and I haven’t quit since.” Richard and his family created Team M&M in 2010, in honour of his father-in-law who had kidney disease. Now many years later, Team M&M continues to bring in new Marchers and Crew, spreading the Kidney March cause in their communities and beyond. ♻️ Richard is also well known for continuing to fundraise along the Kidney March rout by picking up any recyclable he sees. #KidneyMarch #kidneyheath #OrganDonation ... See MoreSee Less

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Kidney March

5 days ago

Kidney March
Meet Alley Adams, the resilient recipient of a double organ (kidney and pancreas) transplant (E 145) ... See MoreSee Less

Meet Alley Adams, the resilient recipient of a double organ (kidney and pancreas) transplant (E 145)

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On this episode we proudly introduce you to a remarkable young woman, Alley Adams, who on May 3, 2021 was the recipient of a multiple organ transplant receiv...

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