KIDNEY STORIES OF HOPE CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF KIDNEY HEALTH MONTH

Testimonials Key to Increasing Public Awareness of Kidney Disease

MONTRÉAL, March 1 /CNW/ - March is Kidney Health Month, and The Kidney Foundation of Canada is once again launching its annual Kidney Stories of Hope campaign (www.kidney.ca/storiesofhope) to raise awareness of the importance of kidney health and what can be done to preserve it. This national campaign offers Canadians affected by kidney disease a chance to promote public education by sharing their personal journey for a chance to win one of five cash prizes of $500. Five participants, one each from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, and B.C. will be recognized for their compelling testimonials submitted to www.kidney.ca/storiesofhope. Profiling inspiring stories, while encouraging Canadians to learn more about the risk factors for kidney disease and their role in disease prevention or detection, is central to the campaign.

Kidney disease is a major health issue that can strike anyone at any age. However, a number of factors may increase the risk of developing kidney disease, including family history; medical problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure; and one's ethnicity. Certain ethnic groups are at a higher risk. These include Aboriginal, Asian, South Asian, Pacific Island, African/Caribbean and Hispanic. Kidney disease usually progresses silently and often damages most of the kidney function before causing any symptoms. Although there is no cure for kidney disease, early detection through blood and urine tests coupled with timely treatment can help prevent or delay disease progression.i

"Knowing whether you are at risk for kidney disease, managing your diabetes and blood pressure and following a healthy lifestyle could make the crucial difference between preventing kidney disease, slowing kidney disease progression and experiencing kidney failure," said Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada.