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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-08-24, Page 1414 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Youngster eager Goderich Kidney Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor Christopher has a heart of gold, unfortunately he wasn't blessed with the best of kidneys, or in a more tech- nical term -kidney. But none of that stuff will matter to him when he leads the Goderich Kidney Walk next month. These health occurrences all started for the 11 -year- old Brussels resident in October of 2014 when doc- tors told him that he had an auto -immune disorder known as Henoch-Schon- lein Purpura. This is a con- dition that causes small blood vessels to become inflamed and aggravated. After this diagnosis the medical staff did an ultra- sound and discovered that Christopher had been born with only one kidney. "It doesn't happen often, but it wasn't something that the doctors were completely shocked by," said Christo- pher's father, Mark Penning- ton in a recent interview. "Most people don't get an ultrasound on their kidneys, COOL Ik CH b 1 a S2A 7611 FOR MOW INFOR TION... www. movie] i rpk.s,ca -800.205-3438 ATTENTION READERS Take advantage of OLlr priung for HAPPY NOTES ]Ilcludee, Birthdays,: Anniversaries. li''ddrngs, Fng g n nts. C radui anus etc. 1 1 HAPPY i JRT lf4Y . llaattt TSI .,too �; t ril . ti (DaLej $23.80 LAI'"?I PILLS rr1 IMai1 � I1 4 'T 'Iri Actual Sire: Pre -Payment is Required .:uSI la'iii i in your p50 & wiibe-t.p and we'l d ilte riSL ! nwir $Irs 8 -r $ ...proi:le• Ilrran r uT1. L xh tor seaforthhuronexpositor.com 8 Main Street Seaforth, ON (519) 527-0240 nancy.degans@sunmedia.ca to lead Walk so we would have never known." Since then it's been a long road for the Pennington's and they are determined to not let the disease win. Christopher lives a normal life like most boys his age. All year round he plays sports, from throwing fastballs and winning a silver medal in the Provincial -A champion- ships, to stopping pucks as a goalie in Blyth -Brussels Minor Hockey. His dad refers to his life as "status quo," when all his medica- tions are working properly and he can keep the disease at bay. Across the nation, it's believed, one out of every 10 Canadians has kidney disease, according to the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Christopher is aware of the statistics for his condi- tion and is very educated in the disease he lives with every day. "In London the specialists make sure when the kids are old enough that the kids know exactly what's going on and if they don't understand they talk to Chris and explain everything to him," stated Mark. His education and deter- mination to understand the disease had led Christopher towards a path to help in a direction to not just help others. himself; it also has pointed That is the main reason Submitted photo Christopher Pennington, 11, from Brussels has been chosen to be the honourary chairman for the Goderich Kidney Walk. why the youngster created Christopher's Crew, an ini- tiative he and a couple Tarewell to Summer Fireworks When: Sunday, September 4 R . f. Time: Dusk (approx. 8:30pm) 1 •++ 4, Where: Seaforth Ag Society Grounds ,°.0. 140 Duke St. Seaforth Donations to the Seaforth Fall Fair Brought to you by: —— °.spit^ ;•; s: s: .11' !1I u'Y•' r;: ea ort uronex s ositor.co buddies started. Last year when he was the honourary chairman for the Kidney Walk in Owen Sound, they managed to gather up about $6,000. This year he's raised between $1500 and $2000 of the initial goal of $4,000 for the Goderich Kidney Walk. "He knows why we're rais- ing the money, it may not help him in his life but it could help someone else down the road," Christo- pher's father said while also adding that all the money goes to the Kidney Foundation. The Goderich Kidney Walk in support of Kidney Disease and Organ Dona- tion Awareness is taking place September 11 at the Boardwalk on the Goderich Waterfront. Locals are urged to get a team together and collect pledges. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with open- ing ceremonies at 9:45 a.m. followed by the walk at 10 a.m.