Kidney Link winter 2014

Kidney Link Winter 2014

The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch

50th Anniversary Issue Founded in 1964, The Kidney Foundation of Canada turns 50 this year! To celebrate, we’ve put together a special issue to showcase the role the Foundation has played over the past half-century, as well as the Foundation’s plans for continuing to improve the health of people suffering from kidney disease.

More on page 3

Gaétan Frigon and Hélène Héroux, new ambassadors for living donation

News from the Chapters

Well-known from television’s Dans l’œil du dragon, Quebec’s French-language version of the Dragon’s Den franchise, Gaétan Frigon was given a kidney by his spouse, Hélène Héroux. Prior to the transplant, Gaétan had endured kidney failure for over 30 years. The Foundation will introduce you to Gaétan, his touching story and the benefits of living donor kidney transplants.

More on page 5

The traditional dinner in honour of Jean-Jacques Bégin was held in Sherbrooke on October 25, 2013 More on page 9

A new milestone for the Jean-Jacques Bégin Benefit Dinner

President’s Message .................................................... 2

Organ Donation .......................................................... 10

The Foundation turns 50 ............................................. 3

50 Years of Accomplishments ..................................... 11

Patient Services............................................................ 7

Donating to the Foundation ........................................ 12

News from the Chapters .............................................. 8

The foundation of kidney care

The personal information you have provided is used only to send you this newsletter. To stop receiving it, please e-mail us at infoquebec@kidney.ca or call us at 514-938-4515.

Readers: You can help enrich our newsletter by sharing your experiences with kidney disease or kidney transplantation. Please send a text of no more than 300 words, along with a high-resolution photo, to infoquebec@kidney.ca.

COORDINATION AND WRITING Antoine Ardiley GRAPHICS AND PUBLISHING Ardecom PRODUCTION Ardecom CONTACT US: The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch 2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West, Montreal, QC H3H 2R5 TELEPHONE 514-938-4515 or 1-800-565-4515 FAX 514-938-4757 E-MAIL infoquebec@kidney.ca Circulation: 10,000 copies The Kidney Link newsletter and Your Health insert are published three times a year by the Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Distributed in English and French to all people suffering f r o m k i d n e y f a i l u r e, t h e s e publications provide valuable information on the Foundation’s services and activities, including the latest findings on kidney d isease and organ donation.

The opinions expressed in Kidney Link and Your Health do not necessarily reflect those of the Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, its directors, employees or members.

Moving? Please let us know at infoquebec@kidney.ca.

Articles may be reproduced provided that the source is quoted.

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Kidney Link • Winter 2014

President’s Message

50 Years of Hope and Hard Work Fifty years ago, in 1964, a diagnosis of kidney failure was often a death sentence. Although invented in 1943, dialysis was still considered new and was not widely available. The first kidney transplant was performed in the United States in 1950, but it was not until 1964 that the use of medications to prevent and treat acute rejection would allow transplants to be performed between unrelated donor-recipient pairs.

It was during this time that a young Montreal architect, Morty Tarder, died of kidney disease. His parents, confronted with their son’s death, vowed to create an organization that would raise money for research on this then poorly understood disease. In Christopher Gobeil, 1964, The Kidney Disease Foundation of Canada, as it was known president of the Quebec Branch then, was founded in Montreal.

Today, the Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national health charity committed to kidney health and to improving the lives of everyone living with kidney disease. Our commitment for the future is to ensure the enduring legacy of those dedicated volunteers who, 50 years ago, started out with nothing more than a compelling cause and the resolve to make a difference.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada raises money by appealing to the public. The funds raised are used to support research, patient services, public education, organ donation, and efforts to promote our cause among governments across Canada. Since 1964, the Foundation has handed out more than $100 million in research grants alone, which have greatly deepened our understanding of the causes of kidney disease and led directly to the development of new treatments, resulting in more and better options for patients.

Sadly, because of the many possible causes of kidney failure, there is no single cure for kidney disease. Transplantation and dialysis will remain the brightest hopes for patients for the foreseeable future. The Quebec Branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada has focused on these areas and will continue to do so in order to foster more positive transplant outcomes and improve dialysis options for patients in Quebec.

Our 50th anniversary is an important occasion on which to recognize those who have supported us over the years, and so we extend our sincerest thanks to all of our volunteers, donors and staff, who have helped us become the recognized leader in promoting kidney health in Canada.

As we face ongoing challenges in the future, including our aging population, strained government finances and competing interests in the healthcare field, we will need everyone’s continued support to further our cause. The last 50 years have seen major advances in healthcare and support for those suffering loss of kidney function. Working together, we can make sure that within the next 50 years, we will see the burden of kidney disease on patients, their families and their loved ones further reduced or eliminated entirely.

So happy 50th birthday, Kidney Foundation of Canada! May the next 50 years be as successful as the first!

Together we can make a difference

The Foundation turns 50 This year, The Kidney Foundation of Canada is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and more than ever, our volunteers and staff, along with the many patients who benefit from our services, as well as their loved ones, are feeling the same sense of urgency that drove the organization’s founders to take action. Research, the development of new treatments and technologies, and early diagnosis are critical if we are to provide a hopeful future for the increasing number of people who will be diagnosed with kidney failure over the next 20 years.

Looking to the future, learning from the past I

n 1958, Dr. John Dossetor coordinated a successful kidney transplant between identical twins at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, marking the first kidney transplant in the Commonwealth. But even he had to admit that in the 1960s “the level of ignorance of what was going on in the blood and in the kidneys of [those with kidney disease] was simply enormous.”

And the ignorance took its toll. In 1963, a young architect, Morty Tarder, was diagnosed with Goodpasture’s Syndrome.

Today, his syndrome is treatable, but in 1963, Dr. Dossetor had no treatments to offer. “When Morty died under my care at the Royal Victoria Hospital, his father, in grief and despair, said, ‘Can’t anything be done to prevent this sort of thing? In this day and age, surely someone can do something?” Harry Tarder’s questions cut to the heart of Dr. Dossetor’s growing frustrations with the lack of available treatment and prevention tools. “For those with chronic renal failure, we had nothing to offer. [Harry’s] agonizing statement haunted me, personally, and led to a resolve to try and do something about our impotence! I then got in touch with Dr. Guy Lemieux of Hôpital Hôtel Dieu in

Montreal and we started talking about a foundation…”

Mr. Tarder turned to his friend Arthur (Ike) Boidman and asked for his help.

Mr. Boidman, a prominent Montreal businessman, helped recruit other doctors and interested individuals and became a founder of the national foundation.

John B. Dossetor Dr. John B. Dossetor is considered the founding father of nephrology, dialysis and transplantation in Canada. After receiving MB and BCh degrees from University of Oxford in 1950, he conducted postgraduate work at St. Bart’s Hospital in London before serving for two years as a medical officer with the Royal Army Medical Corps in India, Malaysia and Singapore. In 1955, he emigrated to Canada to accept a lecturer position at McGill University and later became its Chief Medical Resident.

Dr. Dossetor is one of the great figures in the advent of organ transplantation in Canada. In Montreal in 1958, he coordinated the country’s first kidney transplant involving a living donor.

THANKS TO OUR FOUNDERS 1st board of directors of The Kidney Foundation of Canada:

· President: Mr. Arthur Boidman · Treasurer: Mr. Harry Tarder · Secretary: Mrs. Martha Allaire

· Vice-Presidents: Mr. Harold Ashenmil and Mr. Yves Fortier Kidney Link • Winter 2014

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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The Foundation turns 50

Nephrology nurses: invaluable resources for the Foundation and for patients Nurses with over 25 years of service in dialysis and transplant units were recognized in 2009 by the Founder’s Award Campaign Cabinet.

N Organ Donation Saves Lives am so grateful for what my donor has done for me. Thanks to him, I’ve been given a new lease on life.

I

Gordon Denison received a kidney transplant. He’s a dedicated athlete whose many sports include track and field.

Thanks to his transplant, Gordon, a project engineer, leads a very active life.

urses play a central role in the delivery of healthcare. They are the angels who watch over those most in need. They are always ready to lend a sympathetic ear and provide comfort to people struggling with an illness. As doctors’ front-line assistants, nurses assess patients’ state of health while delivering care and treatments with the sole aim of improving their quality of life.

The nurses who work in nephrology spend a great deal of time with their patients, who come in for their treatments several times a week. As a result, patients form close bonds with nurses, who can directly contribute to positive outcomes and make a real difference in the lives of those affected by the disease.

Three kind nurses taking turns to keep Hélène smiling, even while she is in her hospital bed

Increasing the number of organ and tissue donors is The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s core concern: Of the 1,200 people on Quebec’s organ transplant waiting list, 78% are awaiting a kidney.

Every year, many people die waiting for a transplant that never comes.

If you would like to donate your organs after you die, the Foundation encourages you to get your name listed in the organ and tissue donation consent registry managed by Quebec’s health insurance board, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). ■ Remember to sign your organ donor sticker and affix it to the back of your health insurance card. And last but not least, please inform your family of your wishes, because the ultimate decision will be theirs.

For more information:

kidney.ca/quebec or 514-938-4515

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Kidney Link • Winter 2014

Together we can make a difference

The first kidney transplant Living in Canada: 1958 Donation Y

oung teenager Moira Johnson had high blood pressure and suffered attacks caused by chronic kidney failure resulting from a form of nephritis.

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lthough people normally have two kidneys, living a full and healthy life with only one is possible. Knowing that, some people willingly donate one of their kidneys to someone in need of a transplant.

Thanks to this compassionate gesture, patients awaiting a kidney are given an alternative to dialysis or to a deceased donor kidney transplant.

The kidney is the organ most often involved in living donations. Of all transplants performed, living donor kidney transplants have the highest success rate.

Luckily for her, she had a twin sister named Nola, which made it possible for her to undergo Canada’s first-ever living donor kidney transplant.

Twin sisters Nola and Moira Johnson a few months after the transplant, which took place on May 14, 1958.

In May 1982, Nola and Moira Johnson celebrated the 25th anniversary of their landmark living donor transplant.

Hélène Héroux and Gaétan Frigon want to raise public awareness of living donation On June 11, 2013, spouses Hélène Héroux and Gaétan Frigon became a “donor-recipient” couple. Gaétan Frigon had suffered from kidney disease for over 30 years, and his survival was becoming increasingly dependent on having a kidney transplant.

Fortunately, his spouse, Hélène discovered that she could give Gaétan one of her kidneys, a selfless gesture that she knew would give Gaétan his quality of life back, while allowing him to say goodbye to dialysis and the waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor. Today, Hélène and Gaétan are doing wonderfully, heartwarming examples of the benefits of living donors.

They want to raise awareness among the general public and elected officials of the pressing need to increase the number of kidney transplants performed in Quebec by finding more living donors.

“Lucky for us, the transplant was possible because we were compatible. We were so fortunate to have had such

an experience, which enabled us to maintain our quality of life. The need for donors has never been so great. Unfortunately, every year, people on the waiting list die because the organ that would have saved their lives never comes.

Living donation is a gift of life

Hélène Héroux and Gaétan Frigon We want to be the voice of living donation, and we support the Foundation’s tireless efforts to increase the number of transplants. When you donate a kidney to a loved one, you give them life. Your donation adds years to their life and life to their years. If someone you know needs a kidney transplant and you’re compatible, don’t wait: give them one of your kidneys. They’ll be forever grateful to you,” said Hélène Héroux and Gaétan Frigon.

Kidney Link • Winter 2014

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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The Foundation turns 50

Research Improving outcomes for young kidney transplant recipients

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s a pediatric nephrologist, Dr. Beth Foster sees firsthand the difficulties young people have in managing their kidney transplant medication. Missing even a few doses of antirejection medications can have serious consequences – even irreversible rejection and graft loss.

Dr. Foster’s research has identified the interval between 17 and 24 years old as the highest risk period for graft loss – likely due to the difficulties that many young people have in taking their medications on a strict schedule. She is currently leading a multi-centre study to test an intervention to improve the way 11- to 19-year-old kidney transplant recipients take their medications.

Participants in the study receive either the usual care or an intervention in which they work with a “coach” to identify their personal barriers to taking medications and to develop specific plans to address these barriers. They are also given the option of getting text, email or phone messages to remind them to take their medications.

Dr. Foster’s prior work identified a greater risk of graft loss during the transfer from pediatric to adult-oriented care, especially when the transfer occurs before the age of 21. Future studies will aim to identify healthcare system factors associated with better medication adherence.

“If I had to identify the single most important thing in the development of my career as an independent investigator, it would be the KRESCENT program. Not only does the program provide supplemental training and exposure to many different scientific questions and approaches, but it provides unparalleled networking opportunities. KRESCENT trainees and new investigators have a unique opportunity to interact with other young investigators from across the country and have access to mentorship from the top senior kidney scientists in Canada. The contacts and relationships that I developed in the KRESCENT program continue to open opportunities for me.” Dr. Beth Foster, McGill University and Montreal Children’s Hospital, KRESCENT New Investigator Award 2006–2009

KRESCENT, the national scientific training and mentoring program for specialized investigators in the field of kidney disease The KRESCENT program promotes the recruitment and training of young investigators who will play a leading role in the field of kidney research in Canada.

The program attests to the leadership of many people, organizations and businesses concerned with reducing the burden of kidney disease across the country. Donations come from the various branches of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, a special contribution from the Canadian Society of Nephrology and funds from government, pharmaceutical companies, professional associations and private donors. Together, these efforts constitute a timely, major investment in the future of kidney research in Canada.

The KRESCENT program is unique in a number of ways: • It recruits interns from a range of disciplines and has them follow a national curriculum; • Through continuous mentoring, it fosters career development at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels, as well as during the period immediately following the intern’s first university position; • It promotes the development of collaborative research and the exchange of knowledge between different areas of research.

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Kidney Link • Winter 2014

The KRESCENT (Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training) program is a national scientific training and mentorship program for kidney researchers that sees training as a means to foster kidney research capacity in Canada. Created by The Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Society of Nephrology and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research in 2005, the KRESCENT Program relies on the involvement of a number of partners.

We're behind you all the way

Patient Services To receive documentation and information about the programs offered by the Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, refer to the “Patient Programs and Support” and “Organ Donation” sections of our Web site at www.kidney.ca/quebec, or contact:

Hélène Boisvert, Programs Director The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch 2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West Montreal, Quebec H3H 2R5 Tel.: 514-938-4515, ext. 224, or 1-800-565-4515 E-mail: helene.boisvert@kidney.ca

kidneycommunitykitchen.ca website Food plays an important role in treating kidney disease

The Kidney Health Screening Centre

The

Eating for healthy kidneys in just a few clicks: a deliciously useful online tool! Whereas the typical renal diet can take all the fun out of eating, the Kidney Community Kitchen brings back all the pleasure food should embody! Specially created by The Kidney Foundation of Canada for people with kidney failure, Kidney Community Kitchen is a trustworthy, easy-to-use website offering tips on how to effectively manage your diet while thrilling your taste buds.

The Kidney Kids Camp (for kids on dialysis and young transplant recipients) In collaboration with researchers, The Kidney Foundation of Canada is exploring ways to support and facilitate the development of a complete set of Canadian guidelines on screening for chronic kidney failure in adults.

Every year, some 50 children get to enjoy a week-long summer holiday without having to take a vacation from their treatments. The Kidney Kids Camp is one of the largest summer camps for children suffering from kidney failure. Located 40 kilometres north of Joliette on a 40acre peninsula on Lac Pierre, the camp plays host to some 50 children a year, who get to enjoy the outdoors in a safe setting specially set up with their condition and medical needs in mind.

Raising public awareness about the importance of maintaining kidney health is a key component of The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s mission. A 2009 Environics survey found that nearly half of respondents mistakenly believed that kidney failure was curable. In fact, most people were not familiar with the risk factors, and 57% of respondents were unaware that kidney failure is associated with diabetes and hypertension.

As part of its efforts to address information gaps regarding kidney failure prevention and early detection, and to raise awareness of this disease, The Kidney Foundation of Canada launched the “Kidney Disease Screening Program.” Since 2010, over 6,500 people have been attended the targeted screening clinics, where they also received advice on improving their overall health with an eye to preventing kidney failure.

The foundation of kidney care

Kidney Link • Winter 2014

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News from the Chapters SAGUENAY

MONTREAL-METROPOLITAN

Lecture by Dr. De Serres at Chicoutimi Hospital

Lecture by Dr. Madore at Sacré-Cœur Hospital

Dr. Sacha De Serres gave a free lecture at Chicoutimi Hospital on October 24, 2013. Speaking to an audience of some 80 people, Dr. De Serres discussed kidney researchers’ ongoing challenges and recent progress, particularly the fresh prospects in the area of immune surveillance.

A free lecture on how to better detect kidney failure among the general public and predict its long-term evolution was held at Montreal’s SacréCœur Hospital on November 19, 2013.

The event was hosted by Dr. François Madore, MD, MSc and full professor in Université de Montréal’s faculty of medicine. It was the perfect opportunity for health professionals, patients and the general public to find out more about the CARTaGENE (cartagene.qc.ca) project, whose research is attempting to draw up a genetic map of Quebecers, on which Dr. Madore has based the topic of his study, “Biomarkers: Tools to Help Kidney Disease Prevention and Early Detection.”.

Those in attendance learned more about the fascinating advances in immunosuppression and the tools being developed to better monitor immune system function.

Luciano D’Ignazio honoured at the Founder’s Award Gala At the 23rd Founder’s Award Gala held in Montreal’s Le Windsor ballrooms on November 21, 2013, The Kidney Foundation of Canada paid tribute to Luciano D’Ignazio, who was bestowed the 2013 Founder’s Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to improving health and quality of life for people living with kidney disease.

A member of the Founder’s Award Campaign Cabinet since 1993, Mr. D’Ignazio, through his tireless dedication, has helped raise over $14 million. This substantial sum has enabled the Foundation to fund kidney research, deliver services to meet the special needs of kidney patients and their families, lobby for access to high-quality healthcare and promote organ donation.

Luciano D’Ignazio (left), accompanied by his children, being given the 2013 Founder’s Award by Tony Loffreda, Honorary President of the 23rd Founder’s

As a distinguished member of Montreal’s Award Gala business community, and guided by his values and moral integrity, Mr. D’Ignazio has contributed significantly to the public’s understanding of the distress experienced by people living with kidney disease. A

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Kidney Link • Winter 2014

natural-born leader, Luciano D’Ignazio embodies the values that make individuals and communities stronger: involvement, commitment and concern for others.

Together we can make a difference

News from the Chapters EASTERN TOWNSHIPS 19th Annual Jean-Jacques Bégin Benefit Dinner Robert Riché, who underwent a kidney transplant on July 23, 2013, at CHUS, Sherbrooke’s university hospital Josée Larochelle, partner at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and honorary president of the 19th Annual Jean-Jacques Bégin Benefit Dinner Josée Parenteau, president of The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Eastern Townships Chapter Monika Robert, who donated a kidney to Robert Riché Dr. Martin Plaisance, a nephrologist at CHUS, Sherbrooke’s university hospital

The traditional benefit dinner in honour of Jean-Jacques Bégin took place on October 25, 2013, at the Club de golf Sherbrooke, under the patronage of Josée Larochelle, partner at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. For the many guests in attendance, the dinner was a delightful opportunity to enjoy succulent oysters and a sumptuous buffet, all for a good cause. Thanks to attendees’ generosity, the event raised $20,000.

The funds will go toward research into kidney disease, promoting organ donation and organizing free activities for people with kidney disease, for those awaiting a transplant, for transplantees and for patients undergoing dialysis.

We were honoured to be able to welcome MP for Sherbrooke Pierre-Luc Dussault and Sherbrooke MNA Serge Cardin, as well as Dr. Réjean Hébert’s political aide, Carole La Madeleine.

The Foundation wishes to thank all of the event’s generous sponsors: Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, IGA Couture,

the CHUS nephrology unit, the Rotary Club, Les Serres Ste-Elie, Labatt and Barefoot.

Josée Parenteau, on behalf of all members of the Eastern Townships Chapter’s Board of Directors, also conferred the chapter’s volunteer award on Christian Houle, former member of the Easter Townships Chapter Board of Directors and current member of the Quebec Branch’s Volunteer Resources Committee. This award is given to a volunteer whose efforts have constituted an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Christian Houle receiving his award from Quebec Branch the chapter’s activities.

President Christopher Gobeil

QUEBEC CITY Christmas Party On December 7, 2013, at Hôtel Québec, more than 155 people attended the Quebec City Chapter’s annual Christmas brunch to celebrate the holiday season in a joyous atmosphere. Door prizes and a choir contributed to the festive spirit of the day.

Another party was held at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital at precisely the same time, this one for people undergoing dialysis, all of whom were treated to presents and lunch.

A big thank-you goes out to all the volunteers who helped organize these two events!

Kidney Link • Winter 2014

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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Organ Donation

Living donors rewarded Presided over by Grand Patron of Honour, Pierre Duchesne, Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, the 20th Canadian Organ Donors Association (CODA) ceremony was held on Friday, October 25, 2013, at Sherbrooke’s Saint-Michel Cathedral. During the ceremony, 199 donors from Quebec received the posthumous title of Health Ambassador.

“This event speaks for an organization that wishes to publicly acknowledge all those who have helped pass along the most beautiful inheritance of all, health itself. We sincerely hope this recognition will help ease the pain their families feel, and that their

outstanding commitment to our community will continue to grow,” said CODA president Richard Tremblay.

A further 16 people were honoured for making living kidney donations.

Marie-Josée Bernier Maria Garcia Calderon Jean Callaghan Rachel Castonguay Angèle Céré-Bérard Sylvie Charbonneau Sylvie Doucet Marcel Duguay

Ginette Fortin Francine Lajoie Stéphanie-Pascale Ouellet Gabriel Plante Maxime Pouliot Robert Sébastien Solange Savard Benoît Vézina

“By making this admirable gesture, these men and women have literally given the gift of life to loved ones suffering from kidney failure. This generosity is a testament to their tremendous compassion and altruism. They are role models and an inspiration to us all,” said Martin Munger, Executive Director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch.

The next CODA ceremony will be held October 24, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. at Sherbrooke’s Saint-Michel Cathedral.

Annual General Conference

Door-to-door campaign The Foundation’s traditional door-to-door campaign will return this March and April in the following regions: • Outaouais • Metropolitan Quebec City/South Shore • Rimouski • Thetford-Mines

• Centre-du-Québec • Rivière-du-Loup • Baie-Comeau • Saguenay

Massive teams of volunteers will be hitting the pavement to improve quality of life for people suffering from kidney disease.

The 2013 door-to-door campaign raised $420,000, surpassing its goal by $4,000.

The volunteers will also take the opportunity to raise public awareness about organ donation. To get involved or find out more, contact Maryse Néron, Provincial Door-to-door Campaign Coordinator, at 418 683-1449.

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Kidney Link • Winter 2014

The Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada will hold its Annual General Conference from May 2 to 4, 2014 in Montreal.

The Nouvel Hôtel 1740 René-Lévesque Boulevard West Montreal Kindly register no later than April 2, 2014, by contacting Jocelyne Renaud at 514 938-4515, ext. 230, or 1 800 565-4515.

Together we can make a difference

50 Years of Accomplishments

What the Foundation has accomplished in its 50 years Research, Progress 1960: Kidney failure is a fatal disease 1970: Discovery of Cyclosporin, a medication that fights rejection 1980: Hemodialysis treatments are shortened from 12 hours to 5 hours 1990: In-laboratory development of erythropoietin to fight anemia in kidney patients 2000: Kidneys become the most grafted organ and the one with the highest success rate

Research, Grants The Foundation funds over a third of nephrology research in Canada To date, the Foundation has dedicated more than $100 million to kidney disease research 30% of researchers funded by the Foundation are Quebecers

Our vision Kidney health and improved lives for all people affected by kidney disease.

Our mission The Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national volunteer organization committed to reducing the burden of kidney disease through: • Funding and stimulating innovative research; • Providing education and support;

kidney.ca/quebec 1 800 565-4515

• Promoting access to high quality healthcare; and • Increasing public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation.

Kidney Link • Winter 2014

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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The Kidney Foundation of Canada - Quebec Branch

2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West Montreal, Quebec H3H 2R5 Tel.: 514-938-4515 • 1 800 565-4515 Fax: 514-938-4757 • infoquebec@kidney.ca

www.kidney.ca/quebec

Become a member of The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch • Receive the Kidney Link and Your Health insert • Receive information on our activities

2014

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Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation