September 2025 Issue | PKD e-News
Welcome to the September e-News from the PKD Foundation of Canada! This month we have information about the Walk to END PKD, PKD nutrition when life gets busy, 50/50 raffles in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and more!
More Than 75% of Our Goal!
We're so close, and we couldn't be more thankful for all our Walk to END PKD participants and donors!
You are the lifeblood of our impact - supporting PKD research as well as patient resources and supports.
Register or update your team today!
Make a Difference!
Faith, Family & Fight
One of our longtime Walk to END PKD supporters is Phouvieng Sackda, who along with his large extended family has been a fixture at our Toronto Walks for many years.
Read about Phouv's heartfelt journey through kidney failure, dialysis and kidney transplant - and the deep faith that strengthened him along the way.
Ticket to Hope : 50/50 Raffles
If you live in Ontario or Nova Scotia, why not try your luck at one of our new 50/50 raffles?
Buy your tickets to get a chance to win 50% of the pot, while 50% goes to support kidney patients!
Thank You Canada !
28 Communities across Canada recognized the September 4 through flag-raisings and landmark lightings, and 20 municipalities proclaimed September 4 as PKD Awareness Day!
Thank you to volunteers and community members who helped make this day possible. We couldn't do it without you!
ADPKD Research Study
This September we walk to end PKD. But some of us can do even more.
If you're living with ADPKD and between the ages of 25 and 65, the MAPLE Study may be for you.
It’s a research trial testing a possible treatment for PKD at sites in Ontario and Quebec.
Not sure if the study is right for you? Talk to your doctor about your eligibility for the clinical trial.
If you have questions about the study, post your questions on My PKD and we’ll get answers directly from the GSK study team.
More PKD Research News
Are you curious about the state of PKD research?
The Live feed on My PKD, our private online PKD community, is regularly updated with the most recent research studies and news.
Check out published studies like these:
New AI Tool Helps Predict Your Risk of Genetic Diseases Like PKD
Can Early Rehab Help You Recover After a Kidney Transplant?
Growing Kidneys in a Dish: A New Hope for PKD Research
Browse Research News on My PKD
Never Too Busy to Eat Well
Living with PKD means paying attention to what you eat, but it doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the kitchen or cooking different meals for your family.
When life gets busy - and it often does - it helps to have simple, flexible food strategies that protect your kidneys without adding stress.
Here are some ideas you can use on even your busiest days.
Index of Nutrition Blogs
One of the benefits of joining My PKD is being able to find all the resources you need - in one easy place.
Check out our Index of all our Kidney Nutrition Blogs by registered dietician and certified diabetes educator Emily Campbell!
Not a member yet? Click here to join.
Perk for You - Early Access!
Emily will be joining us at the virtual 2025 PKD Summit to talk about PKD Nutrition that Works for Your Life.
Wed 5 Nov 2025 @ 12 noon ET
e-News readers get early access to register for this free session - save your spot today!
Watch your inbox for more news about the 2025 PKD Summit in the coming weeks!
"You Have PKD"
Hearing those words for the first time can feel overwhelming.
In our new blog series, therapist Joy Pekar talks about coping with a PKD diagnosis.
Join the conversation on My PKD, where we’re sharing PKD diagnosis memories.
"I Have PKD"
After the shock comes the question: how do I tell my family?
Our booklet Having a Conversation with Your Adult Children About Your PKD Diagnosis offers practical tips you can adapt for any family discussion.
You can also adapt these resources for ongoing family conversations about PKD.
Not Just About Kidneys
In his decades of caring for patients with kidney failure, nephrologist Gavril Hercz noticed the toll that kidney disease takes - not only on the body, but also on the spirit.
He was inspired to become a psychotherapist, and develop a wholistic "psychonephrology" program at Humber River Health.
Tue 7 Oct 2025 @ 7pm EDT
Join this free webinar to hear insights from Dr. Hercz's years of clinical work and personal experience, plus practical ways to care for your mental health at every stage of PKD.
This evening also includes Q&A with Dr. Hercz.
Late-Stage PKD Peer Support
Our monthly PKD Mind Matters chats have become a lifeline for late-stage PKD patients across the country.
Tue 21 Oct 2025 @ 12:00pm ET
If you’ve been craving connection, comfort, or just a place where people understand what it’s like to live with PKD, we hope you’ll join us.
KFOC Peer Support
The Kidney Foundation of Canada also has monthly PKD peer support meetings in partnership with the PKD Foundation of Canada.
Wed 15 Oct 2025 @ 1:00pm ET
Register for the October meeting by emailing [email protected], or calling 1-866-390-7337
Transplant & Genetic Disease
The Transplant Ambassador Program has a free webinar coming up next week!
Thu 2 Oct 2025 @ 6:30pm EDT
Learn what every family with a history of kidney disease should know, and hear from patients about their personal experiences with transplant.
Reserve your spot by emailing TAP or calling 1-833-274-3740
What About Genetic Testing?
Have you ever wondered about any of these questions?
- Do I need to get genetic testing for PKD?
- What's the value of getting genetic testing for PKD?
- When should I (or my children) get genetic testing?
- How do I get genetic testing?
- Is genetic testing covered by provincial healthcare plans?
- Is there any reason why I shouldn't get genetic testing?
Sign up for our free roundtable conversation with Dr. Matt Lanktree and a genetic counselor, to learn the answers to these questions and more!
Tue 14 Oct 2025 @ 7pm EDT
The event will include a live Q&A.
Events for All on My PKD
Don't forget that these - and many more - PKD-related events can be found 24/7 on My PKD.
We curate an extensive listing of events - ours, as well as those from a number of different PKD-, kidney- and transplant-related organizations - to save you time.