2011) theme also focuses on the cardiovascular risks associated with kidney disease. March 1, 2011 -- March is Kidney Health Month, and The Kidney Foundation of Canada is once again launching its annual Kidney Stories of Hope campaign ( www.kidney.ca/storiesofhope ) to raise awareness of the importance of kidney health and what can be done to preserve it. This national campaign offers Canadians affected by kidney disease a chance to promote public education by sharing their personal journey for a chance to win one of five cash prizes of $500. Five participants, one each from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, and B.C. will be recognized for their compelling testimonials submitted to www.kidney.ca/storiesofhope . Profiling inspiring stories, while encouraging Canadians to learn more about the risk factors for kidney disease and their role in disease prevention or detection, is central to the campaign. "Knowing whether you are at risk for kidney disease, managing your diabetes and blood pressure and following a healthy lifestyle could make the crucial difference between preventing kidney disease, slowing kidney disease progression and experiencing kidney failure," said Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. The Kidney Stories of Hope campaign profiles powerful testimonials to improve understanding of the impact of kidney disease and kidney failure. The public awareness campaign is made possible through an educational grant from Shire Canada Inc. January 21, 2011 - According to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), close to 38,000 Canadians were