More than $11,000 raised at 5th Pontiac Kidney Walk

More than $11,000 raised at 5th Pontiac Kidney Walk

On Sunday afternoon (September 24), dozens of people turned out to the Shawville fairgrounds for the fifth annual Pontiac Kidney Walk.

Participants gathered in the Homecraft Hall, before setting off on a marked course around a section of the grounds. Each walker was equipped with a sack of kidney beans, and dropped one into the collection bucket with the completion of each lap.

Organizer Randy Russell thanked the crowd for their attendance, and said that he was elated by the generosity of the community. The group had a modest goal of $8,000 for this year’s event, and surpassed it well before the walk took place. As of Monday, the total sits at just over $11,000 (the link to donate is available here).

Speaking to CHIP 101.9 in the days before the run, Russell explained that his family has a history of kidney disease, but through research and advances in medicine, the burden on his family has lessened with each passing generation. He also recently celebrated the sixth anniversary of his kidney transplant, which was donated by his wife Francine.