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Kidney Walk scheduled

Have you ever wondered how much your life would change if one of your most essential organs was failing?Thousands of British Columbians know.

Have you ever wondered how much your life would change if one of your most essential organs was failing?

Thousands of British Columbians know.

They live with the reality of kidney disease every day.  They attend numerous specialist appointments.  They receive constant monitoring and tests.  Some undergo regular dialysis to keep them alive. Many wait for organ transplants.

It can take up to 10 years for a patient to receive a new kidney.

But, there is hope.  Through cadaver organ donation and living organ donor programs, lives can be changed overnight.

This hope requires participation in the organ donation process.

Recently, as many as 85 per cent of B.C. residents surveyed said they were in favour of organ donation but only 17 per cent have been registered as donors.  There is a gap between those who intend to register for donation and those who are actually registered.

In an effort to increase awareness, the Kidney Foundation of B.C. hosts an annual Kidney Walk in various communities.

The 2011 Kidney Walk: A Walk to Close the Gap will be held on Sunday, Aug. 21 in Penticton.  Registration takes place at 8:30 a.m. at Gyro Park, with the walk beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The event will feature a 2.5-kilometre walk or five-kilometre fun run. Prizes, draws and silent auction items will be on hand.

The Kidney Walk is sponsored by Kemp Harvey Kemp Inc., which is a Certified General Accountant (CGA) firm.  Other sponsors include Global TV, Ocean Spray and Bellingham’s MeTV KVOS Station.

If you would like to get more information, volunteer, participate or donate, please contact Laura Craig at 250-492-3141 or pentictonwalk@kidney.bc.ca.  Please visit the Kidney Foundation website at www.kidney.ca.