RIGHT now, there are almost 2,000 people in Surrey living with chronic kidney disease, and almost 500 in need of a kidney transplant. Many will die waiting.

“Every community in BC shares a similar story of needing more kidneys than there are available for transplant,” says Karen Philp, Executive Director, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch. “The research shows 95% of British Columbians support the idea of donating a kidney to someone in need, but only 19% are actually registered on BC’s organ donor registry.  We want to change this story and invite the public to join the conversation.”

The Surrey Community Conversation will be held on Monday, November 3 at 6 p.m. at City Hall on 104 Avenue. Members of the public are invited to share their thoughts and experiences, as well as hear from special guest speakers and health care experts about the impact of kidney disease in the community.

Hailey Cheema, who lost her grandfather to kidney disease in 2009, is the host of the Community Conversation in Surrey. Hailey says, “My personal story with my grandfather is only one of many stories of patients whose treatable illnesses became fatal. Organ donation is not commonly discussed in classrooms or households and I hope that the Community Conversations are able to educate individuals from all ages, genders, races, cultures, and ethnicities on kidney disease and organ donation. It is an honour to be a part of this event.”

Throughout the province, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch, is hosting 12 Community Conversations, including this one in Surrey, to ask people to help identify the barriers that stop people from registering as organ donors as well as the solutions to increase the number of people receiving a kidney transplant in their community. The Kidney Foundation is committed to increasing kidney transplant rates by 50% over the next five years.  This conversation is the first step towards this goal.

Members of the public can learn more and register by calling 604-736-9775 or visiting the Foundation’s website at www.kidney.bc.ca.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch, exists to help prevent kidney disease or delay the onset. It also provides support services for patients who have chronic kidney disease or are on dialysis, and promotes organ donation to increase kidney transplant rates.  It is here to help each and every kidney patient until there is a cure.