Our second year of operation for Alive to Strive Kidney Fitness Project was a remarkable year. Our Alive to Strive Race 2013 Course Vivre ses defis hit a stepping stone by getting over 500 participants. In 2012-2013 our Active Living Grant Committee has awarded 6 personalized training grant, and had one of the recipient receive a kidney transplant the day after the Alive to Strive Race 2013 Course Vivre ses défis!
The Alive to Strive Race 2013 Course Vivre ses defis was our best event as of yet! With 533 registered participants, including dozens of kids running in the 1K, a full 5K team of all dialysis patients, as well as many families attending, we raised $16,137.00 for the Alive to Strive Kidney Fitness Project and nearly $3000.00 for charities (Kidney Foundation of Canada – Patient Care Program $1,682, Canadian Diabetes Association $114, Kidney Research Centre $1200.25). Our wonderful race committee also managed to raise $21,500 in sponsorship, and started to build local support. We had a beautiful day for the event, and very special participants, including our Race Ambassador Diana Aiello, Tyler Huneault challenging the community to beat his electric wheelchair 5K time, as well as Colleen Hayes and Jason Dunkerley, a Paralympic medalist who gave a kidney to his wife Colleen.
I look forward with great excitement to this year, as we grow our grant programs; reach out to satellite dialysis units followed by the Ottawa Hospital and to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario as well as developing group classes. Our 4th Alive to Strive Race will bring once again, kidney disease and kidney health awareness to our community and will keep our relationship with local companies as well as growing our local volunteers list and social media followers.