A Corunna man is hoping more people will take an active approach to their health as he continues to raise awareness about kidney disease, along with support from his family and friends.
Paul Wright was 35 years old when he was told he needed a new kidney. Luckily, his wife Kim was a match and the two underwent a successful transplant surgery in London in 2013.
"It was amazing. It was surreal. It was hard because as much as that was nice and great at the time, it was also scary because we had two young daughters and both of us were going into the operation on the same day so that was pretty nerve-wracking," he said. "But exciting at the same time because it was going to give me a new lease on life."
Today, Wright is doing "wonderful."
"Everything's gone well and that allows me to continue to walk alongside my wife," he said.
As a way to support the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the couple travelled out west in 2018 to walk in the 100 kilometre Kidney March in Kananaskis, Alberta. Kim's father, Wayne Freer, cheered them on along the way as a member of the support crew.
Their team name: Living on Love.
In 2019, the Wrights' daughter, Alaina, joined them for the Calgary walk.
The family was unable to travel during the pandemic in 2020 and walked 100km over three days in Lambton County instead.
They were joined in recent years by friend, Robynn Marks, and the Wright's youngest daughter, Abby.
"It's something we continue to basically raise the awareness for everybody, that kidney disease is real and it's a silent killer," he said.
This year, the team has grown to include friends Terri-Lynn Thomson and her partner, Erick Vriesinga, who is currently waiting for a kidney.
"Myself and Erick, we both didn't know we had kidney failure before we were told on just routine blood work. That's the scariest thing, waking up one day, [hearing] you're down to 40 per cent kidney function and that's not going to recover," Wright said. "Take interest in your own health, ask questions, and just be a part of your own health care."
The Living on Love crew will begin their three-day trek on Friday, September 5. They'll walk from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.
Day one, will see the group start their walk from the Blue Water Bridge, stopping six times before reaching Sombra, amounting to 36.3 km.
Day two begins at Brander Park, and heads north on the St. Clair Parkway to just past Guthrie Park, for a total of 34 km.
On Sunday, September 7, the team will complete its final leg from the Highland Glen boat launch to the Blue Water Bridge (31 km).
The team hopes to raise $5,000 to support research and programs. Donations can be made on their fundraising page, through the Kidney March's website.
More details about the local march and the routes can be found on Facebook, Kidney March - Living On Love.
Meanwhile, the annual Sarnia Kidney Walk will be held on Sunday, September 21.
Participants will meet at the Kiwanis Pavilion at Canatara Park, beginning at 9 a.m. with the walk starting at 10 a.m.
“The Kidney Walks really are the highlight of the year. They are a place where people living with kidney disease feel loved and supported by their family and friends - they also see the strength of our community and learn that they aren’t alone in their experience,” said President of The Kidney Foundation’s Ontario Branch Mary-Pat Shaw.
The foundation said the Kidney Walk has raised over a million dollars each year.
Over 4 million Canadians are affected by kidney disease, and the wait list in Ontario for a deceased donor kidney continues to be four years on average.
Those interested in registering in advance for the walk, can do so online.