On May 27, The Walk will be held in eight regions of Quebec to support people with kidney disease and promote organ donation

MONTREAL, May 1, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Walk, an annual fundraising event organized by The Kidney Foundation of Canada, will be held May 27 in the following regions of Quebec: Montreal, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivieres, Gatineau, Quebec City, Saguenay/Lac-St-Jean and Dolbeau, all with the aim of raising public awareness about kidney disease and the importance of organ donation.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada hopes to attract over 2,500 people in the eight participating cities and has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $250,000 to give renewed hope to the over 12,000 Quebecers suffering from kidney disease or at risk of developing it in their lifetime.

Diabetes and high blood pressure: the main causes of kidney failure

The number of patients suffering from kidney failure is climbing steadily. In Quebec, an estimated 8,000 patients are receiving care at a pre-dialysis clinic, while over 4,600 are on dialysis.

The two main factors leading to end-stage renal disease are diabetes (in around 35% of cases) and renal vascular disease (in around 18% of cases), which includes hypertension.

The best hope: a kidney transplant

Organ donation needs have risen sharply due to the rapid rise in the number of people living with kidney disease. At present, some 1,200 Quebecers are on the waiting list for an organ transplant, and 941 (78%) of them need a kidney.

The demand for organs greatly outweighs the supply. The most recent Canadian Institute for Health Information report on organ donation notes that the gap is growing between the number of organs available for transplantation and the number of people awaiting a life-saving transplant. Of the organs people are waiting for, kidneys top the list.

These striking data clearly show that, unfortunately, the incidence of kidney disease is only growing, and that we must act quickly to improve the quality of life of people suffering from this life-threatening illness.

On May 27, Let's walk for life!  To register: www.kidney.ca/quebecwalk or for more information please contact 514 938-4515 / 1 800 565-4515

About The Kidney Foundation of Canada
The Kidney Foundation of Canada was founded in 1964 as a national volunteer organization committed to reducing the burden of kidney disease. Since its establishment, the Foundation has funded and stimulated innovative research into kidney disease; educational and support programs; promoted access to high quality healthcare and increased public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation. kidney.ca/quebec

Source:

Louise Deguire
Communications Director
The Kidney Foundation - Quebec Branch
Tel: [phone]  ext. 225