Cycling club to mark Kidney Awareness Month

The Mpongo Cycling Club (MCC) will host a health walk and bicycle ride event to raise awareness of kidney-related illnesses.

The event, which will include a 6km walk and 20km ride, will start and conclude at the Lido in Daveyton on March 26.

According to MCC’s head of marketing and operations Sakhele Gqabaza, it’s one of their aims to create awareness on health issues that affect their community.

“The month of March is dedicated to kidney awareness. So, this event is in line with national Kidney Month. It gives us an opportunity to impart critical information to the community on kidney-related illnesses,” Gqabaza said.

Gqabaza explained that the event was inspired by Matshepo Inama who has been on dialysis for the past 10 years after being diagnosed with kidney failure in 2012.

“Ours is to inspire our people to come and ride with us because it’s healthy and fun. This event was inspired by someone really special to the club. We want people who may be going through the same to know that they are not alone.”

Inama told the City Times that the diagnosis came as a surprise to her as she rarely got sick.

“It was April 9, 2012, and my temperature was high. After being admitted to Glynnwood Hospital, the doctors ran tests. After a few days, I noticed that my stomach, feet and face were swollen.

“Then one day the doctor told me I have kidney failure and I have to be on dialysis. From that day until today, I have been on dialysis,” she said.

She said the kidney awareness campaign was close to her heart as it will educate the public about her condition and help stop the stigma.

“Patients who are on dialysis go through a lot. I want people to know and be informed about kidney failure. I want them to be educated about dialysis and transplants.

“When I could still work, I got sick a lot and my colleagues thought I was getting special treatment. They knew about my condition but they didn’t understand what I went through every day.

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“We should be allowed to express ourselves and not feel judged or measured by our health conditions,” she said.

The event will start at 07:00 with the ride and walk. Thereafter, healthcare professionals will be invited to speak.

For more information, you may contact Gqabaza on 072 623 3126 and Thuto on 061 497 0864.

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