Owen Sound Kidney Walk Raises Nearly $9,000 for Awareness

The annual Kidney Walk in Owen Sound brought together community members on March 30, 2024, raising nearly $9,000 for the Kidney Foundation of Canada. The event, held at Harrison Park, aimed to increase awareness of kidney disease and support those affected.

Judy Stobbe, a dedicated volunteer and caregiver, shared her personal journey with kidney disease, which began after her husband, Tom, became a patient in need of transplants. Since then, Stobbe has committed herself to the foundation, becoming a living donor for her husband and actively participating in peer support groups. “I found a peer support group for caregivers who meet online, and that got me involved,” Stobbe stated during the event. “It has just kind of snowballed from there.”

Community Engagement and Fundraising Success

Approximately 30 participants joined Stobbe for this year’s walk, surpassing their initial fundraising goal of $5,000. The funds generated will aid in research and the delivery of support programs for individuals living with kidney disease.

Stobbe’s involvement with the Kidney Foundation deepened after witnessing firsthand the challenges that kidney disease imposes on individuals and families. Reflecting on her family’s experience, she explained how her decision to become a living donor for Tom’s second transplant was influenced by their circumstances. “I didn’t serve as a donor the first time because our kids were younger. But when the time came for his second transplant, I decided it was something I could do,” she said.

Stobbe noted the process of becoming a living donor involved extensive testing, including bloodwork and imaging scans. When she discovered that she was a match, her excitement was tempered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the transplant. “I was shocked, but we have the same blood type,” she added.

Raising Awareness and Providing Support

The Kidney Foundation of Canada emphasizes the importance of events like the Kidney Walk in fostering community support. According to Craig Lindsay, Director of Programs and Public Policy for the Ontario branch, these walks are not just fundraising efforts but also opportunities for connection. “When my kidneys failed, I felt terribly alone. I went to my first Kidney Walk early in my journey and felt connected,” Lindsay said. “That is really the hope, that people come and feel part of a larger community.”

More than four million Canadians are affected by kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant for survival. Lindsay highlighted that many individuals are unaware of their condition, stating, “One in ten Canadians live with kidney disease, and most of them don’t know it.”

The Kidney Foundation also offers a risk assessment tool, available at kidney.ca, to help individuals understand their susceptibility to kidney disease. With an average waitlist of about four years for a deceased donor kidney in Ontario, awareness and support are crucial.

As the Owen Sound walk concluded, participants reflected on the sense of hope it provides. “There is hope – better treatments, better supports, feeling less alone,” Lindsay remarked. The event not only raised funds but also encouraged conversations about kidney health within the community.

In addition to the Owen Sound walk, a second event took place at Station Beach in Kincardine, which raised $22,500 as of the morning of March 31, 2024. For more information on kidney health and the resources offered by the Kidney Foundation of Canada, visit kidney.ca.