Tag Archives: Event Information

Kidney March 2022 Surpassed Expectations! THANK YOU!

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Congratulations and thank you. 

You continued to fight united against kidney disease and for organ donation. Your determination and commitment to making a difference in the lives of kidney patients and their families was heroic. It is because of you Kidney March 2022 exceeded every expectation we had. Thank you!

After two years of marching on our own paths, we came together to share heartfelt highs and lows, laughs and tears, and embrace the incredible feeling of uniting, no matter what. Strangers became friends, and lifelong memories were made, all while making a monumental impact in the lives of those affected by kidney disease.  You blew up social feeds and shared your journey with so many around the world. 

To everyone who participated but was unable to do so in person, we can’t thank you enough for putting your all into Kidney March this year. You are valued members of our Kidney March family and we loved watching your journeys online.

Thanks to you, our marchers, crew, sponsors, donors, and volunteers, we put kidney disease and organ donation on the map in the biggest way possible.

Kidney March 2022 raised over $959,635 – and the donations are still coming in! This year’s fundraising contributes to the over $12 million raised through Kidney March to support all those living with kidney disease, fund life-saving research, and fuel organ donation initiatives and education. We’re closing in on a million dollars and there is still time to help reach our goal, donations are accepted until October 31, 2022. Donate Now

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. Tag yourself in our Facebook Albums! We will be uploading more pictures and videos from the weekend there. 

• Save the date for the Kidney March Alumni Reunion on Saturday, October 22, 2022. We will unveil the Kidney March 2022 video and celebrate everyone who made this year outstanding!

Registration is open for the 2023 Richardson Wealth Kidney March, this is going to be a HUGE year. Register before December 1, 2022, to be a Trailblazer! As a Trailblazer, you pave the way for the year to come and you will receive an exclusive Trailblazer item.

Click here to register for Kidney March today & BE A 2023 TRAILBLAZER!

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.

The 2022 Kidney March Opening and Closing Ceremonies

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You’re invited to join Kidney March participants at their Opening and Closing ceremonies. Come cheer on everyone involved in this incredible event. 

The Opening Ceremony: Friday, September 9, 2022 at 7:00 am
Are you ready to help kick off the adventure of a lifetime? Join us at 7:00 am sharp on Friday.
Where: the Millarville Racetrack: 306097 192 Street, Millarville, AB T0L 1K0.
Please note, vehicles cannot be left at the racetrack after the ceremony ends.  
A Special Thanks to our Opening Ceremony Sponsor, The Lecky Foundation!

 The Closing Ceremony:  Sunday, September 11, at 3:00 pm
Join us for  3:00 pm to cheer on the parade of Marchers and Crew as they complete their final kilometres and walk into the Closing Ceremony at Winsport Canada Olympic Park’s Festival Tent.
Where: COP Festival Tent: 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary AB. (See map below for parking)
Not able to attend in person? The Closing Ceremony will be live streamed. Watch the Closing Ceremony live on the home page of KidneyMarch.ca
 A Special Thanks to our Closing Ceremony Sponsor, Richardson Wealth!

For more info on other cheering locations read: 2022 Cheer Stations

Where can my supporters cheer for me at Kidney March 2022?

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2022  Cheering Stations & Ceremonies

The experience of a lifetime and maybe the biggest challenge you’ve ever undertaken deserves a lot of celebration! 

During Kidney March, safety is our top priority.  Support is also very important to us, so we want to make sure your family and friends have opportunities to cheer you on!  There are specific locations each day where friends and family can safely park and greet you:

Day One

  • 7:00 am sharp, Opening Ceremony at Millarville, Millarville Racetrack: 306097 192 Street, Millarville, AB T0L 1K0 
  • 9:30 am – 1:00 pm, Turner Valley lunch stop,  Royalite Millennium Park: approximately 105 Valley Trail NE, Turner Valley, AB T0L 2A0

Day Two

  • 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, Kananaskis lunch stop, Kananaskis Info Centre Elbow Valley Visitors’ Information Centre: 2 AB-66, Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0 (Alberta Parks Kananaskis Conservation Pass Required) 

Day Three 

  • 9:00 am – 11:00 am, Calgary lunch stop, at Peace Park: 8 St SW & 2 Ave SW, Calgary AB
  • 3:00 pm, Marchers and Crew complete their final kilometres and walk into the Closing Ceremony at Winsport Canada Olympic Park, in the Festival Tent, 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary AB 
    **bottom of the hill only** 

Please use the designated cheering stations only.
For safety reasons, we cannot allow spontaneous stops along the route or have family and friends joining the walk. Family and friends are encouraged to find their Marchers and Crew only at the cheering stations listed.
**Guests or visitors are not permitted at Kidney March Camp**

 

DAY ZERO 2022 – What you need to know

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“What should I expect on Day Zero?” Here’s a brief run-down. 

Please mark your calendars to attend one of the following mandatory Safety Sessions on Thursday, September 8, 2022. 

Date & Location
Thursday, September 8th 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 with your ID and be able to, check out your tent assignment, drop off any donations, and visit the Kidney March store. 

MARCHER Mandatory Safety Sessions
All Marchers must attend one of the following mandatory Safety Sessions. We are offering three sessions throughout the day at different times.

Session 1: 3:00 pm
Session 2: 4:00 pm
Session 3: 6:00 pm

Each session is 45 minutes in length. We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to your session to pick up your package. You will need more time if you are turning in donations. Please note, the 6:00 pm session is typically the busiest.

Mandatory Crew Meeting & Safety Session – 5:00 pm
This is a Mandatory Crew Meeting for all Crew Members. At the Crew meeting, you’ll be attending a short safety session and meeting your Team Leads and fellow Crew Members.

 

Help Find our 2022 Theme Song!

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Suggest a Theme Song for 2022! It’s that time of the year when we need your help to find the perfect Kidney March THEME SONG! We’re looking for a song that captures the essence of #KidneyMarch, something we can rally behind as we march united this year!
 
 Do you know of a current or classic hit song that is upbeat, inspiring, or speaks to your experiences and the community of Kidney March for this year? Suggest a song with the title and artist by email to Maggie at maggie.morris@kidney.ca
 
🎼 Enjoy this video of some of our past songs to see what we have already used and for inspiration.

 
 

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

 

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.