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Bill's Story

A legacy for his second family
Bill, a kidney disease patient, was a frequent visitor to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Sarnia office as he welcomed the warm and friendly interaction he had with staff and volunteers. He also came to appreciate all that The Kidney Foundation did to support patients and their families. From providing helpful information on disease management to its Canada wide research program to staff and volunteer visits to see patients like him in the dialysis unit, Bill was most thankful for the foundation’s programs.

Like many patients, Bill had dialysis treatments three days a week and counted on his nurses for his in-centre care. These people were in his words “like his second family.”  Indeed, dialysis is very much a way of life for some 30,000 Canadians with many preferring to have their treatment at hospitals and clinics for the social interactions they offer. The nature of these three-times-a-week visits endears patients to those that provide their care: their nurses, nephrologists and support workers. The comradery that develops between patient and nurse is quite special with many getting to know each other’s stories about their lives and families. 

Bill wanted to do something meaningful on his passing for both and knew the power of charitable giving. Some time ago, he had taken out a life insurance policy naming The Kidney Foundation of Canada as beneficiary of the policy proceeds. On his passing last year, The Foundation received the proceeds of the policy and his estate received a charitable tax receipt equal to the policy’s death benefit. A significant portion of the monies will support The Kidney Foundation and its mission to provide hope and support through programs and research and an amount was also set aside for a party for the hospital nurses to have a celebration as he requested.  

The Kidney Foundation counts on the generosity of legacy donors to support its programs and research. Through your Will, gift of life insurance or other planned gift, you can create your own personal legacy.