LA Matheson Secondary students participated in the Canadian Kidney Walk initiative on Sunday June 1st at Tyne-head Park in Surrey and helped raise $1040.62
This walk was in support of fundraising for families impacted by Kidney Disease, education programs and services. Launched by Kidney Foundation of Canada, every year, Canadians unite at the Kidney Walk to celebrate the strength of the kidney and transplant community. One in 10 Canadians is impacted by Kidney Disease. On Sunday, students from Grade 10-12 joined a passionate community to support this important cause and organization.
Under the guidance of Languages Department Head and Teacher Mrs. Gurpreet Bains as the Team Captain, Matheson Parent Manjit Kaur Uppal , students Makaila Kalsi, Jeevan Kaur Nagra, Japneet Kaur Parhar, Simrit Kaur Bains and Jasmanjot Singh Uppal helped sign up a team and helped fundraise $1040.62 in just 2 weeks to benefit the Kidney foundation. Some students also volunteered at the event. Past LAM alumni also pitched in.
They were inspired by the educational workshops organized at LA Matheson by Reetinder Kaur Brar and Haily Cheema, who are actively involved with the Kidney Foundation of BC. This further inspired the students to organize their First ever Green Shirt Day to create awareness about Organ donation. https://greenshirtday.ca/
Makaila Kalsi, a Grade 12 student took on this initiative by volunteering in the community and presenting to classrooms about Green Shirt day and LAM Parent Mrs. Uppal shared her family story of living with a loved one with kidney disease. The story of resilience and hope created awareness about this important cause and mobilized students to help out.
The organization encouraged the students to continue their good work and applauded them for all of their efforts. Surrey MLA’s Jessie Sunner, Amna Shah and Garry Begg also spoke to the students and congratulated on their efforts.
Students are supported by teachers and administrators in their fundraising initiatives and awareness campaigns.
Anyone interested in Organ donation can visit https://register.transplant.bc.ca/
