News

Burnaby – The Kidney Foundation’s annual Kidney Walk is marking its 15th anniversary this year, raising a total of $3.6 million in support of people living with kidney disease. As the event returns to in-person, participants in communities across BC and Yukon are gearing up to celebrate their efforts once again on Sunday June 4th.

Long-time Kidney Foundation volunteer of 26 years, Linda Bonner-Brown, is one of those people. Linda has been an active champion of the Kidney Walk in Kamloops since it began, raising an incredible $55,000 for the cause.

Linda knows all too well just how serious kidney disease is, losing her husband, Doug, to the disease in January 2000. Kidney disease has no cure and it’s much more common than people think, affecting one in ten Canadians.

“Before my husband was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn’t know anything about kidney disease. When my husband started going to the hospital three times a week for dialysis, that is when I started connecting with other patients and knew then I needed to do whatever I could to help,” says Linda.

Over the years, Linda has become a fixture in the community, demonstrating extraordinary passion and dedication to make a difference for kidney patients, including establishing the Kidney Walk Memorial Team, in memory of her late husband and others in the community who passed away from the disease. She spent countless hours helping to increase awareness about the importance of kidney health through media interviews and community outreach at her local hospital, community centers and shopping malls.

“My greatest joy has been volunteering for the Kidney Foundation, it saved my life after my husband passed away,” she adds. “As a volunteer-based grassroots organization, the success of the Kidney Walk depends heavily on the support from members of the community, like Linda,” says Marie Hesse, director of Community Initiatives at the BC & Yukon Branch.

“We could not do what we do without the thousands of volunteers, donors and sponsors who show up each year and contribute whatever they can to make a difference. Every dollar counts, and these funds have a direct and positive impact on kidney patients and their families who depend on our programs and services to help improve their quality of life.”

It’s not too late to register, get a team together, fundraise and join the Kidney Walk celebrations on June 4th in a community near you. Together, we are stronger than kidney disease.

For more information on Kidney Walk, visit kidneywalk.ca.

Contact:
Deborah Tucker
Communications and Marketing
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch
604-837-4317

The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Excellent kidney health, optimal quality of life, and a cure for kidney disease. For nearly 60 years, this vision has guided us to be a collaborative, inventive and focused leader in the development of programs, services, research opportunities and awareness campaigns that have had a positive impact on the millions of Canadians living with, or at risk of developing kidney disease. The Foundation's national research program has grown to become one of the most important sources of funding for scientists conducting kidney-related research. We are also committed to providing education, information and support about kidneys and kidney disease. For more information, visit kidney.ca.