THE Kidney Walk for Kidney Transplantation and Organ Donation is an opportunity for patients on dialysis, organ transplant recipients, their families, living donors, the medical community, and the public to come together to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and organ donation.

Bring your family and friends and make a tangible difference in the lives of the 1 in 10 Canadians living with kidney disease. Each step is part of our collective passion to create a better future.

Your participation will help thousands of people affected by kidney disease and make a difference for those who hope for a better future while awaiting a kidney transplant.

The Kidney Walk for Fraser Valley takes place at Surrey’s Bear Creek Park on September 27 at 10 a.m.

One in 10 British Columbians is affected by kidney disease. The number diagnosed has increased 60% in the last 10 years. Today, more than 3,000 British Columbians are on dialysis. Dialysis often requires three hours of visits each week to a clinic for at least three hours of medical therapy.  There is no cure, and dialysis is expensive. It costs $60, 000 annually for one patient. A kidney transplant costs $25, 000 for surgery and may require up to $6,000 a year for medication post-transplant. A kidney transplant is the best option for most patients to resume a reasonable quality of life and ability to contribute to their family and community.

What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is defined as the presence of kidney damage, or a decreased level of kidney function, for a period of three months or more. CKD can be divided into five stages, depending on how severe the damage is to the kidneys, or the level of decreased kidney function.

Usually, kidney disease starts slowly and silently, and progresses over a number of years.

Stage 5 is also called end-stage renal disease. It is important to remember that end-stage refers to the end of your kidney function (kidneys working at less than 15% of normal), not the end of life.  To sustain life at this stage, dialysis or kidney transplantation is needed. Dialysis and kidney transplantation are known as renal replacement therapies (RRT) because they attempt to “replace” the normal functioning of the kidneys.

What causes chronic kidney disease?

There are many different kinds of kidney disease and disorders. Some kidney diseases are inherited and others develop as we grow older. Some ethnic groups such as Africans, East Asians and South Asians are at greater risk of kidney disease. Kidney disease is also associated with other medical conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. At the present time, the exact cause of many types of kidney disease is not well understood.

Most diseases of the kidney attack the filtering units of the kidney, damaging their ability to remove wastes and excess fluids. Currently, there is no cure, but it may be possible to prevent CKD or delay its progression. This is especially true in people with diabetes and high blood pressure, the leading causes of kidney disease.