Local resident brings Kidney Fundraiser to town
A hairstylist from Malloytown is hosting a kidney fundraiser with the Grey Cup in Kingston.
Kelly Hallett got a day with the trophy as part of her winning the CFL Fan of the Year contest.
She roots for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers despite the fact that she has never lived there.
Kelly tells KingstonDaily.ca that someone on the team shares the same name.
Kelly was named fan of the year through fan voting.
It was during the contest that she told her story of her husband, Keith, who is diabetic and the disease almost caused him to lose one of his feet.
Kelly says the medication he was taking put a lot of stress on his kidneys.
It was determined that while Kelly was a blood match, doctors believed her kidney was not an ideal tissue match for Keith.
She then turned to a paired kidney donor program where Keith was able to receive one that is the best match.
Kelly explains what that program entails.
Keith had the transplant surgery on April 25, 2024 while Kelly had surgery to donate her kidney a month later.
Kelly says he felt rejuvenated since getting the new kidney.
To commemorate the anniversary of Keith's surgery, Kelly arranged with the Canadian Football League to have her day with the Grey Cup as a fundraiser for the Living Kidney Donor program at Kingston Health Science Centre.
Touchdown for Life will take place on Friday April 25 from 2 pm to 4 pm at Merchant Tap House in Kingston.
Kelly says the trophy will be there and feels it is a way to give back to the hospital for helping save her husband's life.
For more information on the event and to donate, go to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation website.
Story by Ken Hashizume
