Event Info
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Police Officers Assn. Park
(Behind the Lowe's at the Long Beach Towne Center)
7575 Carson Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90806
Click here for Driving Instructions
Click Here for Parking
Registration/Check-in Time: 8:30 AM
Opening Ceremonies/Walk Start Time: 10:00 AM
The Kidney TRUST will be offering Free CKD Testing from 9 AM to 1PM.
Testimonials
I'm doing it again! I will be participating in the DaVita Kat Walk that helps to raise money for chronic kidney disease awareness. This year I'm setting my goals higher because last year many of you helped me to completely surpass my fundraising expectations. Last year I raised about $800....so this year I want to set my goal at $1500...because I have faith that I can do it. And even if I can't, I'll at least have tried.
As with just about everything I do, the motivation for my participation comes from the memory of my son Avery James who passed away at the age of two, 2 years ago on July 3, 2006.
Through my pain and loss, I have learned a new way of living...and my life's mission is to make a difference in as many people's lives as I can....this helps attribute to MY life's meaning, and gives me a purpose.
Through my mission, I hope to inspire others to think of their purpose in life...beyond the striving to stockpile money, and beyond the satisfaction of obtaining "power"...I hope to bring people back to where it really matters in the end - family, time well spent, fulfillment, and philanthropy.
Through losing the person and the time with that person who meant more to me in this world than any dollar amount could ever replace, I have learned that life is short, and can be taken at any time, and that life should be lived with no regrets. Somewhere there is a balance where I can accomplish my goals while still focusing on what is important in my life.
Through all this, I have learned the healing power of giving...something that can't be explained until you do it. When you start putting things into perspective, you start realizing how much you have when there are others who have nothing or who have lost something very dear to them.
With that said....if you are not already participating in this Kat Walk, I urge you all to come out and do so (held this year in Long Beach)...while this cause does not directly relate to my loss, I know that in some indirect way, I am helping another mother have more time with her child than she would have had, had she not been alerted to the risks and causes surrounding kidney disease ahead of time...thus prolonging the disease and buying her precious more days to create those everlasting memories with her child.
If you are not able to participate in this walk, then please feel free to donate a monetary amount in support of my cause and mission and all that it stands for, or in memory of your own loved ones.
Thank you all for your support.
About
The Waterfront Center of Southern California
The KAT Walk in Long Beach is nestled in the Greater Los Angeles area and centrally located to those who live in Orange County and the greater LA area.
Long Beach is where the action begins and the fun never ends. From the regal Queen Mary and spectacular Aquarium of the Pacific to stirring Broadway shows, live music venues and hundreds ofexclusive dining destinations--all centrally located. Airport-close, a brief and pleasant cruise away from Catalina Island and a short distance from Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood and everything Southern California has to offer--Long Beach is the perfect destination!
Long Beach is the host city for the "overall finish" of the AMGEN Tour of California professional bicycle race. Eighteen international teams compete in this "Tour de France" style cross country race that covers more than 650 miles of scenic California roadways.
To many, the ocean is music to the ears. It's never been more true than in Long Beach where world-class arts and cultural exhibition complement a spectacular seaside locale. Catch a musical masterpiece at the waterside Long Beach Performing Arts Center, home to the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Long Beach Opera and International City Theater. Enjoy a million-dollar ocean view atop the bluffs at the Long Beach Museum of Art, housed in a historic Craftsman mansion and featuring an acclaimed museum café and gift shop. Immerse yourself in the dynamic culture of the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), or explore the eclectic East Village Arts District.
Long Beach has transformed itself into an upscale tourist resort, with many waterfront attractions, including a new, state-of-the-art aquarium with a fabulous shark exhibit, two excellent art museums, charming shops, public golf courses, the annual April Grand Prix international auto race and lots of recreational activities along its eight-mile stretch of beach. Take the kids to the waterfront entertainment complex with rides and live performances or to the farming demonstrations at Rancho Los Alamitos. Feeling romantic? Cruise the canals of Naples (that's right, Naples Island in Long Beach) in a genuine Venetian gondola. One thing is for sure; tensions and stresses dissolve in this laid-back, friendly city.