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.

害羞草研究所淚 still pinch myself some days. I go through waves, it was definitely emotional,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 something very special and I害羞草研究所檒l hold it very dearly.害羞草研究所�

She said she had six weeks of recovery and she now feels like she害羞草研究所檚 living with both kidneys again, and has been training for the walk for a few months.

害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� she said.

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

害羞草研究所淚 think she害羞草研究所檚 really brave and I害羞草研究所檓 really proud of her,害羞草研究所� said Jupp害羞草研究所檚 10-year-old daughter, Jordyn.

, with a goal of $2,200 and she害羞草研究所檚 part of a collective of marchers called the Sole Sisters and The Misters who are looking for a total of $50,000 in donations.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 pretty close to my personal goal, so I害羞草研究所檓 very happy about that. We have up until 30 days after the actual march to to submit all of our donations so I害羞草研究所檓 not quite sure where we害羞草研究所檙e at time-wise, but I害羞草研究所檓 hopeful that we害羞草研究所檒l we害羞草研究所檒l get the support that we害羞草研究所檙e looking for this year,害羞草研究所� she said.

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

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