A team comprised of members of the communities of Keeseekoose and Cote First Nations was the top fundraising team at the Kidney Foundation of Canada walk in Yorkton on June 14.
The team raised over $1,300, said Kristal Whitehawk. “We all walked for Jory Keshane, who had kidney failure on December 31, 2014, and undergoes dialysis three times a week in Yorkton.â€
Whitehawk said that Jory Keshane, 25, the son of Crystal and Mark Whitehawk of Keeseekoose and grandson to Ernie and Violet Keshane, had been taking university courses in Yorkton and had won scholarships last year.
Mark and Crystal Whitehawk organized the walk for Team Jory Keshane and family members collected pledges from supporters in Kamsack, Yorkton and Melville.
For having collected the most pledges at the walk, Team Jory was treated to a pizza party at Boston Pizza in Yorkton. Included on Team Jory were: his parents; a sister, Christie Whitehawk; Supporters of district kidney patient raise funds at Yorkton walk grandparents; aunts Alvina Keshane and Tilly Desnomie; Ernie and Selena Dieter; an uncle Leon Keshane, a cousin Kelly Desnomie, a nephew Micah Keshane, and friends Louise Lulashnyk, Ryan Keshane, Cynthia Shingoose and kidney recipient Cameron Keshane.
Members of the community said they were pleased to be making people aware of kidney disease, Kristal Whitehawk said.