An annual family day was held to raise awareness and funds for a disease that is more common than is widely known.
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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, kidney related diseases cause 53 deaths a day.
This disease kills more people each year than breast cancer, prostate cancer or even road traffic accidents.
Chronic Kidney Disease is defined as the presence of impaired or reduced kidney function lasting at least three months.
Approximately one in 10 Australians have CKD and over 1.5 million Australians are unaware they have indicators of the disease, such as reduced kidney function and/or the presence of blood in the urine.
John Clout said in 2008 he was running with a football club and didn’t feel anything, therefore was blindsided after a visit to the GP revealed he had kidney disease.
“My wife was my donor as her kidney was compatible with me, so we had the transplant done in May 2009,” Mr Clout said.
“I’ve been doing fairly well since and I’m very lucky as a lot of people miss out on having a transplant and therefore have to rely on dialysis.”
Data from the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry showed that the survival rate following a kidney transplant is high; 97 per cent success rate from a deceased donor and 99 per cent from a living donor following one year since the transplant.
It also showed that the three most common causes of kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplant in Australia in 2016 were diabetes, inflammation of the kidney and high blood pressure.
In 2010, Mr Clout went on his first Kidney Kar Rally and thought it was a “great” idea for a good cause, so has driven in the Kar Rally ever since and took his own car the following year.
“I just got hooked on it, it’s such a great mob of people and I really love being apart of it,” he said.
Mr Clout hopes to raise awareness of CKD and urged people to seek medical advice if “something different” occurred, like going to the toilet more frequently.
“Go and see a doctor, get a a blood test; it can save a lot of pain down the track,” he said.
“The last thing you’d want to do is go on dialysis three days a week, especially for kids.”
Kerry Flinn joined three years ago as the navigator to Mr Clout and is hopeful this year they can raise over $40,000.
“I know a lot of children around the Wagga and Riverina area who have had kidney problems and kidney transplants, and that’s why I decided to help out,” Mr Flinn said.
This year’s rally starts from Goulburn to Queanbeyan via Ballarat and to take part, each car has to raise a minimum $4500 while the rally itself is an average speed test.
Money raised goes to supporting kids who are on dialysis and gives them a trip to Queensland with their siblings once a year, allowing their parents respite.
Last year they raised $37,200 and this year their goal is to raise more.
On July 28, between 10am and 2pm, the fundraising event was held at the Riverina Marine Centre with fairy floss, a sausage sizzle and jumping castle accommodating for the whole family.
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