Since 1964, The Kidney Foundation has helped millions of Canadians suffering from kidney failure and related disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Their fundraising campaigns allow the foundation to contribute millions of dollars to research, organ donation and transplant programs, and services for those with chronic kidney disease. One of their fundraising events is the annual Kidney March.
For Chestermere resident, Morris Luchka, this is his first year participating in the Kidney March. Luchka had considered participating in 2014, but this year decided to take the challenge and sign up. For Luchka, who will be 59 years old at the time of the walk this fall, the decision came from experiencing kidney stones and realized the importance of kidney health and creating awareness around kidney disease.
Luchka needed to raise $2200 to take part in the walk, but has set a goal of raising $5000 for the Kidney Foundation. “In supporting me, you are supporting The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Funds raised by Kidney March help the Foundation carry out kidney disease prevention, lifesaving research, and organ donation initiatives”, says Luchka.
This three day walk starts on Friday, September 11 near Millarville, Alberta, and leads them through Kananaskis Country. They then head west into K Country, where the scenery is beautiful and serene. The awesomeness of the Rocky Mountains in sight, the group will make their way along the Foothills of the mountains, a region known for its majestic beauty.
Their closing ceremony will be held three days later on September 13 in Calgary, renowned for being the first Canadian City to host the Winter Olympics. It’s a place to celebrate achievement – a fitting place to complete the Kidney March as one united front in the battle against kidney disease.
The Kidney Foundation reports that 3.5 Million Canadians have chronic kidney disease or are at risk. Most people don’t know that they are at risk. Most don’t know they have it until it’s too late. The numbers are growing at an alarming rate. In southern Alberta alone, the number of people living with chronic kidney failure has doubled in the last ten years. 72% of people who are on the organ donor waiting list are waiting for a kidney. Funds raised through the Kidney March are vital for continuing the research and battle against kidney disease. Kidney disease is irreversible, and each year it kills thousands of Canadians. These numbers are growing. Kidney disease cases are expected to double in the next ten years. Unless we as concerned citizens stand up and take action, this silent disease will continue to take lives and livelihoods.
Not only does kidney disease cost enormous amounts of money for our health care system, it devastates individuals and their families. More than half of the people living with kidney disease in southern Alberta live on or below the poverty line. Entire families are impacted when one member has kidney disease, and it’s a lifelong illness.
With Luchka always giving back to his community of Chestermere where he has called home for twelve years, a valued member of the Chestermere Lions Club – this is just another way that he is paying it forward. To learn more about the Kidney March or to donation to Morris Luchka, please visit www.kidneymarch.ca
