Sasipenita and the Saskatchewan branch of the Kidney Foundation are coming together to host the second annual Staying Alive fundraising event.
The funds raised at the event will be used to spread awareness for Indigenous kidney patients in the province and support kidney research, patient services, and public education.
One in ten Canadians have kidney disease, and one in three Indigenous Canadians have kidney disease. For many Indigenous people living in the northern and rural parts of the country, it’s hard to access crucial care, and Sasipenita and the Kidney Foundation are working to bridge that gap.
Sasipenita means “never give up” in Swampy Cree, and founder Monica Goulet shared her story about how she never gave up when she was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2011. Goulet was featured on the Meno Ya Win – Indigenous Kidney Health Series by the CKD Network and shared her experience. You can watch her video here: https://youtu.be/TbcM8H0ev1Y?si=TiSXxfq3xPfxrDJR.
“When you consider that one in ten Canadians will get kidney disease, we are disproportionately affected—three times more than non-Indigenous people. Some of the contributing factors to our situation are poverty, lack of awareness, lack of access to health care services that are culturally relevant, and also, people don’t have the money to be able to go for testing,” explained Goulet.
At the Staying Alive fundraising event, there will be many powerful speakers, including Kevin Peeace, a well-known artist who is on hemodialysis, Patsy Chell from La Ronge, who had a double lung transplant, and many more.
The evening will also feature a dinner, a silent auction, and dance.
The event is set to be held at the Dakota Dunes Resort & Casino on June 14 at 5 p.m., and guests are encouraged to wear glitzy country or western-themed attire.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased until June 10.
For more information or to purchase tickets, follow the link below.