Why We Walk

We walk for our little boy Bear. Bear was born in 2020 with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4. He was diagnosed in utero with hydronephrosis, hydroureters and LUTO. He had surgery at 6 days old to clear his posterior urethral valves (PUV). Bear spent 22 days in the NICU at CHOP after birth and since has had many surgeries and admissions. Currently Bear has a g-tube, vesicostomy and ureterostomy to help keep his kidneys draining and as stable as possible. Don't let his long diagnosis list fool you, he is the happiest little boy. Bear loves playing T-ball and soccer, going to school, and spending time with his big sister Ellie. We are thankful for our supportive family and friends who jump in to help whenever they can. Last year we had a great turn out for Bear's Bean Team. This year we hope for his team to grow even bigger! 

This year, our team has joined others throughout the country to fight against kidney disease. On November 3rd, 2024 we’ll walk for our loved ones, colleagues or friends who cope with this devastating chronic illness each day – and for those who lost their fight too soon.

**Bear's Bean Team will be doing a private walk this year on Sunday, November 3rd. The location will be at: 
Washington Lake Park
626 Hurffville Cross-Keys Road
Sewell, NJ 08080

We will forever walk in memory of some very special people in Bear's life:

Aunt Marie Bush - Passed in 2022, had CKD, she loved her little Bear Bear.

Uncle John Handlos - Passed in 2023, had CKD, he loved spending time with Bear playing with cars, trucks and dinosaurs.
 

Gail McGinty - Family friend who passed in 2021, kidney transplant recipient, always prayed for Bear.
 

Dr. Doug Canning - Passed in 2022, Bears Urologist at CHOP since birth. Dr. Canning performed 3 operations on Bear. He gave us the support and confidence to take care of Bear and help him live a normal childhood with his condition.
 

Together, we walk to support the lifechanging work of the National Kidney Foundation:

- To ensure that families will have a place to turn when they need answers.

- To keep up the fight for policy changes to protect kidney patients and living donors.

- To drive innovation in transplantation and get more loved ones off the kidney transplant waitlist.

Walk with us and fundraise -or- support our efforts with a generous donation to improve the lives of kidney patients in our community and across the country.