‘Drive for life’ generates P.5M for dialysis patients

By Wabilyn Leanne M. Lomong-oy

BONTOC – The Kataguan Dialysis Patients Organization (KDPO) in partnership with the Maximo B. Dalog Foundation (MBDF) generated P503,000 pesos from the tickets sales of the 4^thKataguan Drive for Life.

The caravan is an annual activity since its inception in 2015 and an added highlight of the Lang-ay Festival in the province.

The caravan aims to generate funds for the benefit of more than one hundred kidney patients who are undergoing dialysis treatment inside and outside Mountain Province.

As of press time, the organization has a total member of 135 kidney patients who are having their lifetime treatment in Bontoc General Hospital, Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital, Baguio General Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and other non-government hospitals.

The operation of the Hemodialysis Unit of the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital (LHMRH) in Bauko, lessened the burden of kidney patients who travel outside the province for treatment.

Today, the Hemodialysis Unit of LHMRH does not only cater patients from Mountain Province but also kidney patients from nearby Ilocos and Benguet provinces.

Lawyer Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., in his capacity as the president of the foundation, led the turn-over of check to the dialysis patient organization on June 23.

The amount of P400,000 was collected from the tickets sales of the congressional office while the amount of P103,000 pesos was collected from the counterpart sales of the members of the Kataguan organization.

Dalog extended gratitude to  sponsors, participants, and to everyone for support in the annual staging of the caravan.

He said that he feels the burden of the kidney patients and their families having experienced it with their father the late congressman.

He also is inviting other kidney patients in the province requesting for financial support for their dialysis treatment to register and become members of the Kataguan Dialysis Patients Organization to benefit from the proceeds of the annual caravan and other fund raising events.

Families of kidney patients said they were thankful for the continuing financial support of the MBD foundation and Dalog family. Sponsors, donors, and participants will be given certificate as an appreciation for support to raise funds for Kataguan organization.

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