More than 60 people walked to raised awareness and funds for kidney disease research in Kelowna on June 1.
The annual Kidney Walk took place in City Park with registration open at 10 a.m. and the group heading out for the walk at 11 a.m.
Organizers Alexandra Holmes and Kim Cross both have personal reasons for getting involved.
"My husband has a rare autoimmune disorder... his kidneys attack themselves," said Holmes about why she walks. "Some people can go their whole lives and it never affects them, and then some people end up in kidney failure. My husband is in end stage kidney failure."
Cross' son was born with a kidney disease. At age five, Carson's health had deteriorated to the point of need a transplant. Cross' said the family was very fortunate to find a living donor in Carson's dad.
"One in 10 people are affected by kidney disease at some point in their lives," Cross said that kidney disease can impact anyone at any age.
With no known cure for kidney disease, the two women are pushing for more awareness and raising funds for various programs that support people with kidney disease and their families.
The Kidney Walk in Kelowna raised over $20,000.
The cause saw people from across the province participate. B.C.'s top participating city was Vancouver with over $92,000 raised. Across the province, people raised a total of $315,484.
