ITS ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY
and the Kilometre Bomber was born....
Kidney March is a 3 day 100 km walk to raise awareness around Kidney Disease and is a fundraiser for the Kidney Foundation held annually. The Kilometre Bomber has been a growing idea in the making for 3 years. It all started in 2018 during many training walks in preparation for my first Kidney march.
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My first Kidney March 100 KM walk was in September 2018. It was spectacular! I received overwhelming donations from my colleagues, friends and family. Not only was I overjoyed with my first Kidney March journey preparing for the walk, the jitters I had leading up to the event quickly melted away as soon as I showed up to the buses that early Friday September morning. The energy was high spirited. I was doing this alone, I knew no one yet I felt a part of something big. The first thought that went through my head walking through that finish line was “I am doing this again next year.”
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2019 was a great Kidney March although you can never redo the first-time surprises, feelings and expectations. When I finished, I wasn’t sure if I would volunteer to crew the event instead of march or would I march? All I knew is that I would continue to support Kidney March into 2020.
In October of 2019 I decided to sign up as crew to support the 2020 Kidney March event and its participants with a side note that if I raised the recommended marcher goal I would walk. Little did I know a pandemic was looming to change everything.
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Crew consists of many different teams supporting the marchers. From the marcher’s perspective they are the operational backbone who keep the event moving for three days addressing every need and making life good for the marchers! When you crew there is an entire realm of different tasks to help support the 3-day event.
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When the pandemic was announced the entire Kidney March platform changed. What was a well-organized, perfected over a decade event, changed overnight! No more Kidney March? No need for Crew?
Not quite!
The organizers found the way to the new 2020 Kidney March. Where they usually would hold an opening orientation for all participants, they held an online orientation on the same date. They use social media to queue participants on upcoming initiatives and planning. It is also used for participants to share a common page to discuss fundraising, training walks and general Kidney March conversation. For the March itself it was decided for safety reasons due to limitations around social distancing, medical support, refreshment stations and street use permits, that they would not be able to hold the community 100km march in Kananaskis over 3-days. Instead from the period of Aug 10 – Aug 31, 70 KMs would be tracked using a workout app. On the original planned Kidney March weekend Marchers 10 KM’s each day to complete the 100kms. The entire weekend manuscript is being rewritten as though it being done for the first time.
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They are not disappointing! There is still an online opening and closing ceremony as well as weekend activities planned all held virtually. Surprises have been mailed! They are making this work!
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OK so what does this have anything to do with the Kilometer Bomber?
Background ofcourse!
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Over the month of May and June I found myself walking my dogs and girls on our Calgary pathways every day. The girls would ride their bikes wile I walked the dog. When the new kidney march platform was announced, I thought I could totally could do the 100km with my family. I am doing now... pretty much... One day around the same time an announcement was sent to call on the Crew.
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What can you do? Send us your ideas!
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Well… on all of my walking days in my head ideas would flow. How can I create attention around this cause? I thought a mascot! People like mascots right?
What if for crew, a mascot can drop in on participant walks to cheer them on throughout August wile they complete their 70kms. The mascot will walk with them for a few kilometres. Like a Photo Bomb but a Kilometre Bomb instead. After all this hasn't been easy on anyone. Everyone can use a cheer! On the weekend of the Kidney March the mascot would go to all different pathways throughout the day cheering and meeting Kidney Marchers on.
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Part Deux,
What if I challenge myself to walk the entire 100kms around Calgary Pathways as the Kilometre Bomber. Could I bring awareness to Kidney Disease and fundraise the remainder of the walking goal? Well why not try!
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I pitched my idea to the Kidney March organizers, nervously I might add. I thought they would think I was CRAZY! Well…. it was well received. We put our ideas together, refined a few starting points and on that day the Kilometre Bomber was born.
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The first Bomb is already planned!
The first walk in mascot gear is scheduled!
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Ok wait!!!!
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I also had to pitch this idea to my husband. I needed to make him think I wasn’t crazy but also get his support. Late one night after we put the kids to bed, I spoke with him about this idea. His reaction was priceless. He simply said very seriously in a tired voice; "Sounds like fun, I will help you!" OMG! I think my stomach needed to be lifted from the floor I was so relieved.
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The Kilometer Bomber is supported by her two girls and husband. They will wear Kidney March gear and join me on the 100km journey around our Calgary pathways. We will take pictures and write about our journey to share.
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The Kilometer Bomber will be cheering on the 2020 Kidney Marchers and fundraise for the kidney foundation.
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See my fundraising page, Sponsor Me!
