The first 'Give the Gift of Life Fun Run' will be held in Yorkton Saturday June 26.
Audrey Parisloff, local organizer of the upcoming walk, said the walk has been held in Saskatoon and Regina the past two years.
"I walked the one in Regina last year," she said.
Parisloff said she has had a long interest in supporting research into kidney disease."Kidney disease has been in our family for many years," she said, adding one uncle had a transplant nearly three decades ago, and a nephew also went through one.
And Parisloff's 17-year-old grandson Bradley Woychesko takes dialysis treatments three times a week in Yorkton. "He's on the waiting list for a transplant," she added.
Parisloff said it is hard on her grandson. "His whole life revolves around being at the hospital three times a week to be hooked up," she said.
Parisloff said hosting the walk, which will be held at the Ravine Ecological Preserve, is also about raising awareness, in particular to have people sign their donor cards.
"Sign the donor card. So many need a kidney, liver, lungs or a heart," she said, adding that once someone signs the card, they should tell their family so they are aware of their decision.
For the first year of the local walk Parisloff is hoping to raise $8,000, adding Regina raised more than $26,000 last year. They had 125 walkers and some big pledges," she said.
Anyone interested in walking or pledging may register online at www.kidney.ca/saskatchewan or can call Parisloff at 783-5259.
