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In 2006, Don ‘Sudsy’ Sutherland and his wife, Cathy, were stunned to hear that, Don’s kidneys failing and that he had a hereditary disease known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD). No one else in Don’s family had any kidney issues including his three daughters, Heather, Meghan and Colleen. A total mystery, Don and Cathy still had to face the reality of Don’s PKD which meant driving three days a week together to do dialysis in Renfrew.
Cathy recalls taking their dog with them, so she could walk while Don was doing dialysis and she laughs remembering that Don claimed she hit the same pothole in the road each trip. Early in 2008, both Cathy and one of Don’s sisters began testing to see if either of them could be a donor for Don. Both were a perfect match and on October 30, 2008 Cathy gave Don the gift of life. 

Throughout the ups and downs of life with kidney disease, Don continued to play slo-pitch baseball with his friends. In 2013, the Sutherland family came together for the inaugural Sutherland Slo-Pitch tournament benefitting The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “We’re trying to educate people [about kidney disease],” says Cathy. “Kidney disease is something that pulled us together and we all feel strongly about raising funds and awareness of kidney disease.”

After a lovely trip to Nova Scotia to celebrate Don’s 65th birthday, Don ‘Sudsy’ Sutherland quietly passed away. The Sutherland family, looking to continue celebrating the loving memory of Don, went ahead with their annual slo-pitch tournament, renaming the tournament in his honour. The Don ‘Sudsy’ Sutherland Memorial Slo-Pitch Tournament annually supports The Kidney Foundation and the Pembroke-Renfrew Kidney Walk.

The Sutherland family goes out each year as ‘Team Sudsy’ to support their Pembroke-Renfrew Kidney Walk community and this year, Cathy and her family are the Ambassadors for the walk. Cathy invites you to join her, Heather, Meghan, Colleen, and those in the Pembroke-Renfrew community on September 23, 2018. “If you’ve been affected by kidney disease, keep going, keep trying and keep doing the things you do. Come and join us, it’s a beautiful walk! Bring your dog and your kids, we’d love to have you there.”