A Victoria resident who donated her kidney to a stranger is gearing up for a 100-kilometre walk in Alberta in an effort to raise money and raise awareness for kidney disease.

Starting on Sept. 6, Sandra Jupp will be joining hundreds in walking 100 kilometres over three days for the annual Kidney March in Kananaskis, Alta.

Last summer, she came across a social media post from someone she used to go to school with whose husband was in desperate need of a kidney. She decided to go through the process of testing and she was a match, but around the same time, someone in the same hospital also had a match, so she went ahead and found another match through Kidney March.

In August, she moved to the top of the wait-list and donated her left kidney to a complete stranger.

香蕉视频直播淚 still pinch myself some days. I go through waves, it was definitely emotional,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 hard not knowing who the person is that received my kidney, but just knowing that I was able to extend their life by another 15 to 18 years, it香蕉视频直播檚 something very special and I香蕉视频直播檒l hold it very dearly.香蕉视频直播�

She said she had six weeks of recovery and she now feels like she香蕉视频直播檚 living with both kidneys again, and has been training for the walk for a few months.

香蕉视频直播淚 probably would have had some harder decisions on determining whether this is something I could financially do, being off work for six weeks, not working full time with a house, and bills and two children,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Because she works for the provincial government, B.C. Public Service was able to pay her wages while she was in recovery.

香蕉视频直播淚 think she香蕉视频直播檚 really brave and I香蕉视频直播檓 really proud of her,香蕉视频直播� said Jupp香蕉视频直播檚 10-year-old daughter, Jordyn.

, with a goal of $2,200 and she香蕉视频直播檚 part of a collective of marchers called the Sole Sisters and The Misters who are looking for a total of $50,000 in donations.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 pretty close to my personal goal, so I香蕉视频直播檓 very happy about that. We have up until 30 days after the actual march to to submit all of our donations so I香蕉视频直播檓 not quite sure where we香蕉视频直播檙e at time-wise, but I香蕉视频直播檓 hopeful that we香蕉视频直播檒l we香蕉视频直播檒l get the support that we香蕉视频直播檙e looking for this year,香蕉视频直播� she said.

For more information or to donate, visit https://kidneymarch.ca.

Read More: