Chilli Cook-Off by local radio stations raise nearly $2,000 for The Kidney Foundation

Local radio stations BIG 105 and 106.7 REWIND taking donations for the Kidney Foundation at the Chili Cook-Off on Thursday at the Save-on-Foods parking lot. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

The Foundation provides supports and services to patients to help maintain their individual renal, or kidney, health like grocery and gas cards to get to treatments, medications, medical equipment and more.

“Just with the way that things are going and the cost of living going up, our programs are even more important this year because individuals are struggling unfortunately. So we’re happy to continue providing the support that we do,” said Daisy Escoto, Kidney Care Manager for the Foundation’s Northern Alberta & the Territories Branch.

She says the Foundation is very flexible in supporting patients in any way they can, even covering some dental and utility expenses if needed.

Although the Foundation’s head office is in Edmonton, Escoto says the Cook-Off is a great way to interact and build awareness with the Red Deer community as their branch serves the area.

Memory Fedoruk, volunteer and cook for the Foundation’s venison-sausage and smoked red ale chili, moved from Edmonton to Red Deer in December 2021 for her kidney transplant.

(L-R) Daisy Escoto, Kidney Care Manager for the Foundation’s Northern Alberta & the Territories Branch and Memory Fedoruk, volunteer and kidney recipient. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

She said she was on dialysis for eight years waiting for a donor. According to the foundation, dialysis is a treatment to clean the blood and remove excess fluids in replacement of what healthy kidneys do.

However, during that time, she was faced with complications and surgeries as a result of the dialysis treatment, including hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, which can cause a rapid heartbeat, weight loss, increased appetite and anxiety.

She said the Foundation was helpful in always offering a listening ear throughout the process with their one-to-one program; something she volunteers with today.

“That’s where a kidney patient, or someone who’s been recently diagnosed, has the chance to talk to somebody who has actually been there and done that. The doctors don’t always know exactly what it’s like to go through it; they just know the medical side of it, not much the emotional side of it,” she said.

Fedoruk added that she is loving living in Red Deer and has already found her favourite spots in the city.

The Foundation will be hosting their Kidney Walk in Red Deer on September 16.

rdnewsNOW, radio stations BIG 105.5 and 106.7 REWIND, and Save on Foods are all owned by the Jim Pattison Group.

by Alessia Proietti

Chilli Cook-Off by local radio stations raise nearly $2,000 for The Kidney Foundation

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