For Immediate Release: July 30, 2015
WINNIPEG DIALYSIS PATIENTS WELCOME CROSS-COUNTRY CYCLIST ON DIALYSIS
July 30, 2015 – Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Manitoba Renal Program (MRP) welcome B.C. dialysis patient Dale Calibaba as he stops in Winnipeg during a cross-country bike trip. The 46 year old is biking across Canada to raise awareness about living with kidney disease and organ donation.
A Welcome Celebration will take place at 12:30 pm at St. Boniface Hospital’s Sisters’ Garden and all are welcome to attend.
“We really wanted to showcase Dale’s journey because it is so inspirational for patients and staff and carries such a great message,” says Dr. Clara Bohm, a nephrologist and Medical Lead of the Manitoba Renal Program Exercise and Wellness Program. “Being active is a great tool in helping manage kidney disease and its symptoms and can be part of a healthy lifestyle that aims to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases including kidney disease.”
Dale left St. John’s, Newfoundland on June 1, and, 4,500 kilometres later, is at the halfway point of his trip. He performs peritoneal dialysis treatments at night while he sleeps using equipment carried in a support vehicle.
“I want to touch other lives and let people with kidney disease see the possibilities so they can be empowered,” says Calibaba.
Manitoba dialysis patient and cycling enthusiast Joseph Kollar will also be speaking at the event. Kollar bikes multiple times a week at Birds Hill Park and receives hemodialysis treatment three times a week in hospital.
Kollar, as along with 300 other MRP patients, their families, and MRP staff, took part in an exercise challenge, the “Kilometre Crunch! Keeping Up with Dale Calibaba,” leading up to Dale’s visit. Participants logged 11,285 kilometres and 135,004 minutes of physical activity during a two-week period.
Visit kidneyhealth.ca for more information about Dale’s journey and how to keep your kidneys healthy.
The Manitoba Renal Program is a provincial program which operates out of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. It is made up of an interdisciplinary team of health-care professionals working together to prevent kidney disease, promote kidney health and provide kidney health services to Manitoba.