The spirit and memories of Pierre Gaspard who died in October 2007 after living with kidney disease, including two kidney transplants and more than a year on dialysis, was carried today by eleven runners in the Run Melbourne event this morning which started at Fed Square.

Image right: Melinda Louey

Melinda Louey said, "The event was an opportunity to run in the memory of my late husband Pierre, as well as raise funds for Kidney Health Australia to help others with kidney disease.

Ms Louey said "Pierre didn't let dialysis get in his way; he did three Bay rides in Melbourne, one while he was on dialysis, so he was an active person, he didn't let the kidney disease get in his way."

"He was always positive, always optimistic."

Melinda and the Kidney Beans Team ready for the Run Melbourne event

Melinda, 34, her sister Petula, and a group of friends ran or walked 10km to raise more than $11,000 for Kidney Health Australia. "I am sure Pierre would be running with us in spirit and he would have been proud to know he has such great friends and supporters."

Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said the efforts of Melinda and her friends would not only raise funds but would also help raise awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease which was responsible for one third of all hospital visits to Australia's public hospitals.

Pierre, a Belgian, came to Australia in 1999 to work in Melbourne as an investment banker. He was admitted to hospital with high blood pressure in March 2000 and was on dialysis for 12 months before he received a kidney from his mother in Belgium in April 2001. However, in 2006 the transplanted kidney was failing and in August 2007 he received a kidney from a deceased donor. He died from a cardiac arrest in October at the age of 33.

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith Media Communications Manager Kidney Health Australia
(03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201