Covering around 738km and eight dzongkhags on foot, two volunteers Tsheten Dorji and Chimmi collected a donation of around Nu 6.4 million for the Bhutan Kidney Foundation.

The awareness walk ended yesterday in Thimphu. Speaker Jigme Zangpo, government officials and volunteers received them at the Clock Tower Square.

The amount they collected is from a month long journey they travelled on foot from Samdrupjongkhar to Thimphu.

Their journey kicked off from Samdrupjongkhar on June 4 and covered eight dzongkhags of Trashigang, Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Thimphu.

During the end of the walk, individuals and representatives from the Thimphu dzongkhag also donated cash to the foundation.

At the closing yesterday, founder and executive director of the foundation Tashi Namgay, said, the money collected would be used for the benefit of kidney patients. He said there are also plans to deposit money on fixed deposit to earn interest from it.

The foundation plans to conduct similar programs in other dzongkhags to create awareness to the public and raise funds for the foundation.

Tashi Namgay said the amount would increase once they receive all the donations from Thimphu and from few other dzongkhags, which are still being collected.

During the course of their walk, the two volunteers gave awareness on kidney disease to the people.

Officials from the foundation said the duo walked through the entire journey using highways.

Tashi Namgay said the awareness walk was a success and saw active participation and support from the public on their way. He also said people came forward to support with food, drinks, shelter and donations for the foundation.

Before they reached Thimphu, the volunteers spent their night at Hongtso and headed to Thimphu with volunteers from the community.

Speaker Jigme Zangpo, who was at the closing said the renal failure has not only affected patients but also their families. “As advised by doctors, we have to exercise to keep our body fit,” he said.

Health minister, officials from the thromde and volunteers attended the closing. The walk was held coinciding with the birth anniversary of Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen.

Tashi Tenzin

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