Hundreds Participate In Walk For Kidney Sake
Mom Helps Lead Effort To Aid Patients, Families
Last updated Sunday, September 7, 2008 2:05 PM CDT in Our Town
By Debbie Miller
THE MORNING NEWS
Related Photos
FAYETTEVILLE -- Stephanie Eiland remembers the long days of taking care of her young son, who was battling kidney disease.
Kolby spent more than three years of his life being kept alive by machines, including undergoing regular dialysis. In February 2005, Kolby became a transplant recipient, and now the 8-year-old is active and doing well, his mom reports.
Eiland's experiences led her to want to help other kidney patients and their families and to raise awareness about kidney disease and the need for organ donation.
She had been involved in helping plan a fundraising walk two years ago when the national Kidney Foundation closed its state office. She asked the Northside Rotary Club for sponsorship, and the club members were quickly on board.
On Saturday, the third annual Northside Rotary Walk for Kidney Sake seemed to go off without a hitch at Gulley Park. Former Razorback Ronnie Brewer Jr. of the Utah Jazz was the honorary chairman. Kolby was the Arkansas Children's Hospital Ambassador.
Eiland, who's an honorary member of the club, moved throughout the park, checking last-minute details and greeting kidney patients, teams of supporters and volunteers.
"This has been my way to help and to make a difference," Eiland said.
Around her, the crowd was awash with the bright blue T-shirts worn by members of Kolby's Kourage Team. Last year, Kolby's team won the largest team award with about 100 walkers. Eiland didn't have a precise count on Saturday as the walk was going on, but she was hopeful the team might capture the award again.
There's a friendly competitive component to the event's fundraising.
The Kolby's Kourage tent on Saturday was nestled alongside the tent for the Calaway Kidney Hogs. The team, led by Curt Calaway, was the top fundraising team last year. Calaway won the prize as the top individual fundraiser. Eiland expected that team and Calaway to capture similar honors in 2008. A Web site for Calaway's team indicated that before the event, a $10,000 fundraising goal had been exceeded.
Last year's event netted $33,000. Eiland said she was hopeful this year's event will meet or exceed that sum.
Half of the proceeds from the walk go to Arkansas Children's Hospital's kidney program for research and a kidney camp. The other 50 percent will be used to assist local kidney patients (children and adults) through the Northside Rotary Angel Fund, which provides emergency grant requests for kidney patients in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the state.
"We've helped so many people in the last three years," Eiland said, mentioning aid with doctor and pharmacy bills as just one way the program has helped.
A recent beneficiary was a mother going through training to learn to administer dialysis to her child. The mother's glasses had been broken and glued back together, and she wasn't able to see properly to learn the information and correct application. The fund, Eiland said, was able to provide her new glasses.
Eiland praised the sponsors, the volunteers and the team that has worked to stage the annual walkathon. She also thanked the Northside Rotarians for their support and work in the project.
She turned to the club two years ago just weeks before the scheduled walk was to go on. Travis Fink, the club's president, knew Kolby's story.
Jody Dilday, current president, was among the volunteers helping direct parking for this year's event.
She said when Eiland approached the club about taking on the project, the members were happy to help.
Working on the day of the event is a small part of staging the fundraiser, Dilday noted. She lauded Eiland and a dedicated team of volunteers in the many months of planning and preparing for the special day.
Eiland estimated Saturday that about 400 people were participating this year.
Varied children's activities -- face-painting, playing on inflatables and necklace-making -- were offered.
Participants could browse a silent auction, and a live auction was scheduled after the walk.
A woman and young girl approached Eiland as she was answering questions. The child, Rayle Holmes, wanted to meet Eiland. Rayle, 9, is a dialysis patient from Ozark. Her team, Rayle's Renegades, had netted close to $3,000 for the walk.
For Eiland, such moments reflect the importance of the work. The money raised means being able "to make a difference in someone else's life."
Aiding Kidney Patients
The third annual Northside Rotary Walk For Kidney Sake on Saturday raised awareness and money.
Benefits: Arkansas Children's Hospital kidney program and Northside Rotary Angel Fund, which provides emergency grant requests for kidney patients in Northwest Arkansas and other parts of the state.
Information: www.kidneywalkathon.com
Club Information
Fayetteville Northside Rotary Club
Meets: At noon each Tuesday
Location: Cosmopolitan Hotel, Fayetteville
Information: www.northsiderotary.org
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
