KM Activities for the week of July 16th, 2013

There’s lots on the go on the Kidney March front this week; training walks, fundraisers and FYI (For Your Inspiration!) Sessions all over the province. Sure hope you can join us for one near you. Feel free to share with family/friends! All events are open to absolutely everyone.

Tuesday, July 16th @ 7p – FYI Session at the Kidney Foundation office in Calgary (6007 1A Street SW). Grab some inspiration, find out all the details of Kidney March 2013, chat training and fundraising with the Kidney March team and meet other Marchers, Crew and Alumni. Registered or thinking about it? Come down and check out all you need to know about your adventure of a lifetime.

Tuesday, July 16th @ 6:30p – 5K Training Walk at Henderson Lake in Lethbridge. Meet at the Main Concession.

Wednesday, July 17th @ 6:30p – 6.5K Training Walk at Echo Dale Regional Park in Medicine Hat. Meet at the concession (the first lake with the beach).

Saturday, July 20th & Sunday, July 21st – Kidney March Team UR in over UR head are hosting a garage sale fundraiser in Calgary at 608 Seymour Avenue SW from 8a-4p both days. They’re also accepting donations this week to the sale so if you have anything you’d like to contribute, feel welcome to contact Jenn Watson at: atsjenn@gmail.com.

Saturday, July 20th – Kidney March Team, Team Christina are hosting a BBQ & Bottle Drive from 10a – 4p at the Wal-Mart in Medicine Hat.

Saturday, July 20th – Kidney March Training Walk at 9:30a – 15K at Edworthy Park, 5050 Spruce Drive S.W.

Hope to see you there. You don’t have to RSVP, but we’d love it if you did: info@kidneymarch.ca or 1.866.9KMARCH

This Mother’s Day Honour Your Moms. March for them.

Which is exactly what Stephanie, Team Captain of Mama-Bear’s Marchers is doing. And her reasons why:

“I’m doing it because my mom is the strongest person I know and on top of the things most mothers have done for their children, my mom has had to fight the silent disease for years while being the best mom she could be and never losing hope. Lastly, I’m doing it to remind my mom that she is the most important woman in my life, remind her that I’m proud that she’s my mom, and remind her that I will never give up hope; her kidneys may have failed her, but I won’t.”

Or, invite them along.

Is the Kidney March an amazing gift for Mother’s day? Absolutely. You could just buy her flowers, OR you could bring her on a 100 kilometre heroic journey to battle kidney disease. Kidney March is a family affair, and we’d love to have you join our ranks as Marcher or Crew.

Register you and your mom as a team between now and Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12th, 2013), and we’ll reimburse her registration fee on Monday. And we’ll send your Mom a special Happy Mother’s Day message to acknowledge your gift.

Register Now at: www.kidneymarch.ca or 1.866.9KMARCH.

Mother's Day - Stephanie

Don Cherry parts with a beloved car for a cause that’s close to his heart – via The Globe and Mail

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The Donor: Don Cherry

The Gift: A 1997 Yukon SUV

The Cause: The Kidney Foundation of Canada

The Reason: To raise awareness about organ donation

When Don Cherry’s beloved 1997 Yukon SUV finally gave up, he didn’t want to just send it to the scrap yard.

“I bought it for my daughter brand new,” the Toronto-based hockey broadcaster said.

“And she drove it for a while. Then my son drove it for quite a while, then I drove it for quite a while, and then my grandson drove it for quite a while.”

By then the vehicle had more than 300,000 kilometres on it. “I thought, ‘Well, it’s got to go’ and it’s kind of sad. I’m one of those guys that fall in love with cars,” Mr. Cherry said. “I thought, ‘Now how can I have this SUV, my beauty, go out in style?’ And I thought, why not go to the kidney car program and have it go that way?” Click here to read more.

Why Walk 100km’s in 3 Days? Because (kidney) failure is NOT an option.

Check out our new Kidney March video. It not only shows what Kidney March is all about, but it demonstrates why Kidney March is vital in its supporting research and programs. We need your help to spread the word! Please feel welcome to SHARE this video freely today!

via kidneymarch.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the heroes of the 2012 Kidney March….

We’re delighted to share the One Life Video that transpired from this year’s incredible Kidney March. We hope you love it as much as we do. Click here to read more.

Two Time Kidney Marcher, Lauren, has made Avenue Magazine’s 2012 Top 40 Under 40 for being utterly awesome.

Source: Avenue Magazine – Published Nov 1st, 2012 by Robyn Burnett

While Lauren Herschel’s day job as an ecommunications advisor has her managing online activities and social media for Bridgewater Bank, she is also a modern-day pioneer. In June 2011, she anonymously donated her left kidney, starting a paired donation chain that has resulted in four transplants.

Herschel’s curiosity in organ donation was sparked when a friend posted on Facebook that she was donating part of her liver to her father. After her own dad passed away due to cancer, Herschel started doing some research. She contacted the Kidney Foundation and was directed to Foothills Medical Centre and the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. “I had an ‘a-ha!’ moment. If I was healthy enough to donate, I could give somebody time with their family that they wouldn’t normally have,” Herschel says. Click here to read more.

Oppa Marcher Style!

Heeeeeeyyyy, Kidney Marchers….

It’s about that time. And, we miss you already. Kidney March 2012 was an ENORMOUS SUCCESS. We Crewed. We Marched. We Conquered. Now, let’s kick back, catch up and celebrate Kidney Marcher Style.

The 3rd Annual Kidney March Alumni Celebration is just around the corner!

Click here to read more.

Why Marching Should be a Team Sport

 

 

May 23, 2012

 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

 

The ranks of Kidney March are a varied sort. We have the rugged individualists, marching for the cause, eschewing human contact as they strive for their personal bests. We have social butterflies, making new acquaintances with every step and stretch. We have those who stroll, curiously taking in every leaf, bird, and cow on the road.

But, however powerful our marchers are alone, teams are where it’s at. Here are a few reasons why you should turn Kidney Marching into a team sport:

You’ll be reminded of the “why.” Why the heck would I walk 100 kilometres in 3 days? Why did I sign up for this? When your brain starts heading down that treacherous path, your teammates will be there to get your mind back in the fight, back on those you love (like the “Nephrodisiacs“, or “In Memory of Nash“), back to those who make this commitment every year (like the Kidney Sisters), and back on track.

Click here to read more.

Organ Donation- Let’s Talk About it

 

The Kidney Foundation, Southern Alberta Branch, wants to remind Albertans that registering is one step in making your intent to donate your organs and tissues known. However, even with signing the back of your Alberta Health Card, your family/next-of-kin will be asked for consent in the event of your Click here to read more.

Become a Hero In Training

 

 

May 3, 2012

 

Become a Hero In Training

 

They say “April showers bring May flowers”. But around the excited halls of the Kidney Foundation, we say “April showers bring May…wait, it’s May? That’s 4 months until Kidney March! We need to start training!”

Kidney March certainly isn’t a cake walk. But there’s motivation in our mission. Kidney disease can’t be stopped. People are waiting for transplants. The 100 kilometres and $2,200 we raise is nothing compared to the day-to-day battle of kidney disease.

However, when it comes to training, the brain can play tricks on us. It takes a lot of mental strength to go from the first lonely training walk of the winter months to game time (fighting) shape! But fear not. We, along with the rest of your fellow Kidney March fans, are here to support you with our scheduled training walks. Click here to read more.