MONTREAL, April 14, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Throughout April and in particular during National Organ Donation week from April 20 to 27, the Foundation is inviting all transplant recipients, living donors and their loved ones to attend one of the fifteen Kidney Walks set for May 25, 2014. Participants may register online or by completing a printed registration form.
The Foundation hopes to welcome a record number of transplant recipients and donors this year in order to celebrate The Kidney Foundation of Canada's 50th anniversary in the company of patients, families, supporters and health professionals.
Since its creation in 1964, The Kidney Foundation of Canada has allocated $110 million to kidney research, enabling thousands of Quebecers to see their quality of life improve significantly and maintain the hope that one day, kidney disease will be beaten.
Over fifteen opportunities to come together to celebrate advances in research
Thanks to research, the kidney has become the most grafted organ, and kidney transplants now have the highest success rate of all transplants. This success is due in part to our researchers' many accomplishments: the development of antirejection drugs, the discovery of antibodies and improvements in dialysis treatments. Every Kidney Walk is yet another occasion to celebrate achievements and the promising new projects that will help improve the quality of life of people with kidney disease.
The best hope: a kidney transplant
On December 31, 2013, 1,047 people in Quebec were on the transplant waiting list, of which 78% for a kidney. In some cases, the wait time is as long as three years. And every year, people pass away while awaiting the kidney that would have saved their life.
On May 25, I'll be walking the Walk in:
Dolbeau – Dollard-des-Ormeaux – Gatineau – Joliette – Maniwaki – Montreal – Quebec City – Rouyn-Noranda – Saguenay – Saint-Bruno – Saint-Georges de Beauce – Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu – Saint-Jérôme – Sherbrooke – Trois-Rivières
Also, the Tour de rein cycling tour will be held in Laval on May 24.
Registration: www.kidney.ca/quebecwalk
Information: 1-800-565-4515 or 514-938-4515
About The Kidney Foundation of Canada
When The Kidney Foundation was founded in 1964, organ transplantation was still experimental, only a handful of hospitals provided hemodialysis as a treatment for kidney failure and access was strictly rationed and determined by selection committees. The Kidney Foundation took on a leading role, advocating for greater awareness of kidney disease, more treatment centres for patients and naturally, research into kidney transplantation. Funds raised by The Kidney Foundation in the following decade allowed us to expand our work and provide seed funding for the establishment of organ retrieval systems and kidney-related research. Since then, our core programs have grown to include short-term financial assistance, a large variety of educational materials on kidney diseases, a landmark kidney researcher training program known as KRESCENT, an online nutrition resource to help kidney patients on restrictive diets, special summer camps for those on dialysis and hundreds of awareness-raising events across the country. We can celebrate 50 years of advancing kidney health and organ donation thanks to interested, engaged and empowered community members, from funders to volunteers and staff. We thank them all for 50 years' commitment in reducing the burden of kidney disease. kidney.ca/quebec
SOURCE: Kidney Foundation of Canada
Louise Deguire, Communications Director, The Kidney Foundation of Canada - Quebec Branch, Tel: (514) 938-4515/1 800 565-4515 ext. 225 - email: [email protected]
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